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MEMOIR 


OF 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOSD. 


RIFLE  BRIGADE: 


^m. 


WHO  FELL  m  THB  SIEGE  OF  SEBASTOPOL,  AT  THE 
AGE  OF  THntTY-ONE. 


IBIODOXD. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 
AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY, 

IfiO  NASSAU-STBEET,  NEW  TOBK. 


..■^  i,. iii-ff'' 


\\ 


1 


'  "•        OONTBNTS.     ^        /  ' 

CHAPTER  I. 
Early  days---- -— "—" -— -    6 

CHAPTER  II. 
Forest  scenes-- ---r—-—--—- -•— — -  12 

CHAPTER  III. 
Conversion - - ---- ------  17 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Changed  liabili" - 24 

CHAPTER  V. 
Home  again ---— ----- - 40 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Letters - 64 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Emigrant  fever ••. — -— 66 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
UBefal£ess r • 78 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Choice  of  friends 86 

171570 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 
'Betom  to  England - 97 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Marriage 107 

CHAPTER  XII. 
ConsdentioiiBness - 118 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Qlie  Bulgarian  campaign ---——126 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
The  camp— ----184 

CHAPTER  XV. 
The  hospital • 147- 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  harbinger  -- --168 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
The  Crimea - 166  / 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
The  storming  — — -— -— 176 


% 


MEMOIR 


or 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND 


CHAPTER  I. 


EABLY  DATS. 


All  is  now  quiet  in  the  Crimea.  Upon  the 
heights  of  Inkermann  the  listless  Tartar  again 
tends  his  flock.  The  bustard  and  the  plover 
have  returned  to  the  steppes;  the  plateau  is 
painted  with  purple  and  golden  i  recuses;  there 
is  peace  upon  the  hills  once  mox-e. 

From  those  deep  ravines  all  living  trace  of 
the  allied  armies  has  disappeared.  But  many 
a  rude  cross  for  ages  to  come  will  tell  where, 
side  by  side,  in  sad  array,  the  mighty  hosts  are 
resting.  There  each,  in  his  warrior's  shroud, 
sleeips  till  the  earth  shall  give  up  her  dead,  and 


$  CAPT.M.M.  HAMMOND. 

the  Lord  shall  gather  his  elect  from  the  four 
winds  of  heaven. 

The  whole  is  now  like  a  dream;  and  our 
minds,  strained  with  intense  excitement,  have 
for  the  most  part  ceased  to  dwell  upon  the 
events  of  that  unhappy  period. 

Yet  "the  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed ;"  and 
if,  in  compliance  with  the  urgent  wishes  of 
many,  we  oflfer  a  short  memoir  of  one  "who 
shall  return  no  more  to  his  house,''  it  is  not 
that  we  may  exalt  him,  but  rather  that  we  may 
set  forth,  in  the  words  of  his  pimple  epitaph, 
"  The  praise  of  the  glory  of  His  grace, 

who  gave  a  Christian  lustre  to  his  life,  and  a 
blesse^ess  to  his  honorable  death." 

Mt^imilian  Montagu  Hammond  was  the  third 
son  of  W.  0.  Hammond,  Esq.,  of  St.  Alban's 
Court,  Kent,  and  of  Mary  Graham,  eldest 
daughter  of  Sir  H.  Oxenden,  of  Broome  Park, 
Kent.  ]d[e  was  born  May  6, 1824.  He  was  a 
high-spirited  and  manly  boy,  joining  with  his 
brothers  during  their  holidays  in  the  favorite 
amusements  of  their  home;  and  with  a  spirit 
of  eiyoyment,  entering  into  all  those  initiatory 
spfM'ts  which  a  country  home  affords.  He  was 
a  favorite  with  all,  and  his  frank,  honest,  open 


EARLY  DAYS.  f 

face  was  an  index  to  his  character.  Maxy  was 
at  this  age  full  of  strong  impulse ;  rather  im- 
petuous, at  times  passionate,  but  of  an  affec- 
tionate disposition,  strongly  attached  to  his 
father  and  mother,  his  family,  and  his  home. 

His  bold,  unflinching  spirit,  showed  itself  in 
a  very  early  trait.  He  was  playing  with  a 
companion,  the  son  of  a  neighboring  gentleman, 
and  with  one  of  his  brothers.  As  they  were 
together,  remembering  that  he  had  n6t  said  his 
prayers  that  morning,  Maxy  suddenly  knelt 
down  in  a  wood-lodge  where  they  were  at  the 
time  and  repeated  his  morning  prayer,  utterly 
fearless  of  ridicule.  His  inclination  for  a  sol- 
dier's life  showed  itself  early ;  and  his  future 
profession  having  been  determined,  he  was  sent 
to  a  school  at  Woolwich,  whence  he  was  soon 
after  removed  to  the  Eoyal  Military  College, 
at  Sandhurst.  «» 

At  Sandhurst  his  progress  at  first  does  not 
seem  to  have  found  favor  with  the  authorities. 
He  considered  the  sergeants,  whose  especial 
duty  it  was  to  report  the  delinquencies  of  the 
cadets,  his  natural  enemies ;  and  loving  fun, 
and  full  of  a  boy's  spirit,  he  was  fsom  time  to 
time  reported  for  faults,  which,  though  never 


m 


8 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


in  one  instance  discreditable,  yet  told  against 
him  in  the  opinion  of  the  governor.  Still,  al 
he  advanced,  his  desire  to  improve  was  evideni 
and  the  half-jearly  reports  show  that  his  efforti 
were  not  unobserved  by  the  professors.  With 
all  his  love  for  amusement  and  natural  disincli- 
nation  to  study,  he  felt  and  understood  his  own 
position,  and  the  duty,  not  less  than  the  impor- 
tance, of  advancing  himself  by  his  own  exer- 
tions. He  gave  much  attention  to  surveying, 
and  was  favorably  mentioned  in  this  dapart- 
ment. 

He  passed  his  examination  creditably,  and 
not  long  after  his  hopes  were  crowned  by  his 
appointment  to  a  second  lieutenancy  in  the  sec- 
ond battalion  of  the  Bifle  brigade,  at  that  time 
quartered  at  Newport. 

The  period  of  a  lad's  "joining ''  is  an  impor- 
tant^epoch  in  his  life.  Emancipated  from  the 
restraints  and  discipline  of  school,  at  one  step 
he  passes  from  boyhood  to  manhood. 

The  world  with  all  its  pleasures  was  now 
open  to  him,  and  it  was  hardly  to  be  expected 
that  his  ardent  temperament  would  escape  its 
dangers,  before  him,  as  before  us  all,  lay  the 
broad  and  the  narrow  way;  and  although  hill 


\ 


# 


BABLT  DATS  9. 

own  natural  good  sense  and  good  taste  led  him 
to  avoid  those  habits  of  life  into  which  lower 
natures  too  often  fall,  yet  the  biographer  would 
not  be  faithfully  painting  his  character,  if  by 
his  silence  he  glossed  over  those  passages  of 
his  early  life, "  wherein  in  times  past  he  walked 
according  to  the  course  of  this  world,  accord- 
ing to  the  prince  of  the  ppwer  of  the  air,  ful- 
filling the  desires  of  the  flesh  and  of  the  mind/' 
The  battalion  was  moved  to  Swansea  about 
midsummer,  and  while  there  orders  arri/ed  for 
foreign  service.  Bermuda  was  their  destina- 
tion. The  battalion  marched  to  Bristol,  and 
from  theace  to  Dover,  where  the  embarkation 
of  the  service  companies  took  place;  butMaxy 
Hammond  having  been  told  off  for  one  of  the 
d^pot  companies,  remained  with  them  at  Dover. 
Here  he  was  quartered  for  some  months,  enter- 
ing without  restraint  into  all  the  trifling  vani- 
ties of  a  garrison  life.  That  his  pursuits  were 
at  best  frivolous,  his  letters  sibw. 

'  "DoTBB,  Sunday. 

"  My  dbab  Mother — ^I  should  have  enjoyed, 

beyond  measure,  ^oing  to  the 's  ball,  but  I 

am  perfectly  unable,  as  I  am  engaged  to  go  to 
a  ball  here  on  the  same  day  at  Mrs. 's;  I 


10 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


ehaJl  write  to to  thank  her  for  asking  me. 

We  had  a  very  good  ball  here  on  Friday ;  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  people ;  but  the  room  waa 
dreadfully  crowded.  There  are  no  end  of  balls 
now.  I  found  six  invitations  when  I  got  here. 
If  my  pony  is  sound  I  wish  you  would  let  me 
know,  that  I  may  send  over  for  it;  a  capital 
ball  at  Canterbury. 

-  "  Your  affectionate, 

t  i  «M.  M.  HAMMOND." 

So  passed  the  winter  months.  In  the  early 
spring  the  battalion  left  Bermuda  for  Halifax, 
and  Hammond  was  ordered  to  join  the  service 
companies.  On  the  second  of  August  he  writes 
to  announce  his  arrival  at  Halifax : 

"Here  I  am  safely  landed  at  last,  after  a 
passage  of  forty-five  days.  We  had  nothing 
but  contrary  winds,  bad  weather,  and  fogs  the 
whole  way  out ;  if  it  did  not  blow  hard,  it  was 
sure  to  fall  a  dead  calm.  We  amused  ourselves 
on  the  voyage  bjishooting  and  harpooning  por 
poises ;  and  when  we  got  to  the  bank  of  New- 
foundland we  began  to  fish,  and  in  two  hours 
caught  seventy  large  codfish,  averaging  from 
ten  to  twenty-five  pounds  weight;  as  fast  as 
you  put  your  lines  down  you  hauled  up  fish : 


t*. 


m 


1 1 ' 

:     i 


% 


&ABX.T  DAYS. 


II 


we  canght  enough  for  all  the  men  and  crew 
besides  ourselves.  But  I  have  said  enough 
about  the  voyage." 

In  Jiis  letters  of  this  period  we  find  nothing 
to  distinguish  them  from  those  of  any  other  lad 
of  eighteen.  Yet  even  now  he  was  not  without 
occasional  misgivings  as  to  his  spiritual  state. 
He  was  living  without  God,  and  he  knew  it. 
The  cloud  would  steal  over  him  from  time  to 
time.  On  this  voyage,  as  he  afterwards  said, 
he  knew  that  he  was  not  prepared  to  die ;  and 
he  felt  a  desire,  as  the  thought  of  eternity  pre- 
sented itself  to  his  mind,  of  leading  a  better 
life.  .He  had  at  this  time  a  respect  for  religion, 
and  went  to  church ;  but  Sunday  was  a  weari- 
ness to  him ;  and  he  always  indulged  in  "  cas- 
tles in  the  air  "  during  the  service. 

This  first  trip  across  the  Atlantic  probably 
gave  htm  a  taste  for  the  sea,  which  became  af- 
terwards very  decidedly  developed;  he  entered 
with  a  sailor's  zest  and  spirit  into  the  profes- 
sional details  of  the  voyage,  noting  how  the 
ship  ran  her  course,  taking  a  pride  in  her  rapid 
sailing,  and  delighting  to  watch  her  answer  her 
helm. 


m 


.«. 


121 


OAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


CHAPTER  II. 


FOBEST  SCENES. 


After  Maxy  Hammond's  arrival  at  Halifax, 

his  time,  daring  the  first  two  years,  was  passed 

much  as  it  had  been  in  England ;  pleasure  and 

*  amusement  was  the  great  object  of  his  life. 

Writing  on  Sept.  2, 1842,  he  says : 

"  You  can't  think  how  I  enjoy  your  accounts 
of  all  the  gayeties,  cricket-matches,  races,  balls, 
etc.  We  are  still  at  George's  Island.  I  went 
out  the  other  day  partridge-shooting,  with  — 

and .    We  started  at  five,  rowed  to  the 

Indian  camp,  and  having  got  an  Indian  to  go 
with  us,  went  into  the  woods.  We  soon  came 
to  a  lake,  where  we  saw  some  very  large  trout ; 

fished  for  them  for  some  time,  but  did  not 

succeed  in  catching  any  thing;  we  then  came 
to  another  lake,  where  we  saw  some  partridges! ; 

and  myself  shot  one.    After  this  we  found 

nothing  for  some  hours,  but  at  last shot 

^  two  more,  which  closed  our  day's  sport.  We 
passed  through  a  tract  of  ground  called  the 


FOBEST  SCENES. 


18 


'Barrens/  where  there  are  no  trees;  here  we 
tracked  a  bear,  and  soon  after  a  moose.  I  saw 
a  hare  with. a  huge  snake  after  it.  I  am  going 
out  moose-hunting,  about  thirty  miles  from 
here,  the  week  after  next,  which  I  expect  will 
be  much  finer  sport.  I  take  two  Indians,  and 
we  shall  stay  about  a  week  in  the  woods.  We 
are  now  hard  at  work  at  drill,  and  I  think  that 
when  the  men  get  their  new  clothing  and  caps, 
they  will  look  nearly  as  well  as  the  service 
companies." 

A  brother  officer,  and  intimate  friend  of  these 
earlier  years,  says  of  him  at  this  time,  "He 
joined  in  all  the  amusements  and.  sports  inci- 
dental to  military  life ;  and  it  was  always  re- 
marked of  him,  that  to  whatever  object  he  di- 
rected his  attention,  to  it  he  devoted  the  whole 
of  his  energies  with  a  zeal  and  earnestness  that 
became  the  leading  features  of  his  after-life. 
He  alwa}i  appeared  to  be  alive  i  the  reality 
of  life  and  the  necessity  of  action  m  whatever 
he  was  engaged." 

The  pursuit  which  just  now  seemed  to  give 
him  the  greatest  zest  and  enjoyment  was  moose- 
hunting.  His  active  and  athletic  frame  and 
his  spirit  of  enterprise  fitted  him  especially  for 


14 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


a  sport  in  which  the  red  Indian  needs  all  his 
subtle  acuteness  of  sense,  his  keen  eye,  his  ligliit 
foot,  his  quick  ear,  his  power  of  endurance  to 
cope  with  the  instinctive  sagacity  of  one  of  the 
most  wary  of  the  deer  tribe.  With  some  broth- 
er officer  for  a  companion,  or  alone,  attended 
by  his  faithful  old  Indian,  Joe  Ooape,  the  hunt- 
ing party  would  set  out,  tracing  the  forests  and 
desolate  barrens,  camping  at  night  under  the 
giant  hemlocks,  and  sleeping,  with  their  feet 
towards  the  bivouac  fire,  upon  beds  of  aromatio 
spruce  branches.  He  loved  the  stately  gran- 
deur of  those  northern  forests,  strewn  with  huge 
fragments  of  rock ;  a  perfect  network  of  trunks ; 
across  whose  fallen  forms  cushions  of  moss  and 
lichens  formed  a  treacherous  carpet,  thefavorr 
ite  bed  of  the  sweet  pyrola  and  the  trailing 
linnsea:  the  whole  was  thoroughly  congenial 
to  him. 

About  two  years  later,  while  on  one  of  these 
hunting  expeditions,  two  incidents  occurred 
which  made  a  deep  and  permanent  impression 
on  Maxy  Hammond's  mind;  the  dawn  indeed 
of  those  convictions  which,  at  a  not  much  later 
period,  by  the  blessed  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
led  to  the  *  bringing,  in  of  a  better  hope.^ 


FOREST  SCENES. 


W 


These  two  incidents  are  thus  described  by  a 
brother  officer,  who  was  Maxy  Hammond's  com- 
panion: ''I  was  attacked  by  a  violent  malady, 
incidental  to  the  swampy  and  unhealthy  dis- 
tricts to  which  onr  sporting  propensities  had 
attracted  us,  and  being  far  beyond  any  medical 
assistance,  I  naturally  caused  a  good  deal  of 
anxiety  and  no  little  alarm  to  my  fellow-sports^ 
men.  There  was  no  alternative.  We  had  to 
halt  on  the  ground,  and  send  one  of  our  party 
some  two  hundred  miles  for  advice,  and  allow 
the  fever  to  run  its  course.  The  utter  helpless- 
ness of  my  condition,  the  solitude  of  the  woods, 
the  unavailing  efforts  of  my  companions  to  re- 
lieve me,  appear  to  have  exercised  a  great  effect 
on  Hammond ;  and  in  a  conversation  I  had  with 
him  years  afterwards,  I  found  that  the  impres- 
sion caused  by  that  illness  in  the  silent  woods 
had  never  entirely  left  his  mind.  In  a  conver- 
sation I  had  with  Hanunond  at  a  future  period, 
he  most  feelingly  expressed  to  me  his  desire 
that  I  should  not  let  such  a  warning  pass.  He 
himself  had  a  very  narrow  escape  of  his  life  in 
crossing  a  torrent  with  a  heavy  load  of  moose- 
meat,  upon  a  single  tree,  accidentally  fallen  across 
the  stream.    He  lost  his  balance,  and  had  not 


le 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


■»  I 


a  hanging  branch  arrested  his  fall,  though  near- 
ly breaking  his  leg,  his  fate  was  inevitable ;  and 
all  present  looked  upon  his  destruction  as  cer- 
tain.^ The  fallen  branch  merely  held  on  long 
enough  to  allow  the  Indians  to  come  to  his  res-^ 
cue,  when  it  gave  way,  and  fell  into  the  torrent 
below.  The  very  insignificance  of  the  means 
of  rescue  left  a  deeper  impression ;  and  from 
I  that  time  he  dated  his  determined  seizure  of  the 
means  of  escape  for  himself  from  a  greater,  if 
not  so  apparent  a  danger." 


t  ' 


GONYERSION. 


11 


CHAPTER  III. 


CONVEESION. 

Hitherto,  A  the  bustle  and  gayety  of  a  gar- 
rison, Hammond  had  had  no  difficulty  in  pass- 
ing his  time  from  day  to  day,  if  not  with  satis- 
faction, at  least  with  unconcern.  But  it  was 
not  to  be  so  long.  Already  the  events  above 
related  had  made  a  strong  impression.  There 
was  an  unsatisfied  feeling,  a  longing  after  hap- 
piness stealing  over  him,  which  the  excitements 
of  this  life  will  not,  cannot  bring.  Like  the 
wise  man,  he  had  said  in  heart,  "  Go  to,  I  will 
prove  thee  with  mirth,  therefore  enjoy  pleasure; 
and  behold,  this  also  is  vanity."  Now  a  new 
voice  startles  him,  strange  indeed  to  his  ear, 
and  imperfectly  heard,  but  yet  unquestionable 
in  its  still  and  solemn  pleading,  "Behold,  I 
stand  at  the  door  and  knock."  The  Spirit  was 
commencing  in  his  heart  a  new  and  a  blessed 
work ;  conviction  had  begun. 

The  year  1844  was  to  be  a  memorable  one  in 
Maxy  Hammond's  history.    His  outward  life 


Hammond. 


2 


18 


GAPT.  H.  M.  HAMMOND. 


1  i 


went  on  as  usual.  But  in  the  altered  tone  of 
his  lettisrs  we  can  now,  for  the  first  time,  trace 
signs  of  a  coming  change.  In  after-years,  when 
referring  to  the  great  change  which  took  place 
in  him  while  at  Halifax,  he  said  he  thought  that 
his  debts,  and  the  compunctions  he  felt  on  that 
account,  were  among  the  first  ^immerings  of 
conviction  that  dawned  upon  him.  The  next 
letter  will  show  that  fear  had  no  part  in  his 
appeal  to  a  father  whose  whole  life  had  been 
one  of  unvaried  kindness  and  affection  to  his 
children : 

"Many,  many  thanks,  my  dear  father,  for 
your  most  kind  and  welcome  answer  to  my  let- 
ter, for  which  I  am  truly  grateful.  It  was  with 
great  reluctance  that  I  found  myself  obliged  to 
ask  you  for  assistance,  but  I  thought  it  better 
to  do  so  than  to  struggle  on  making  up  my 
arrears.  You  do  n't  know  what  a  weight  is 
now  off  my  mind,  or  how  happy  your  kind  let- 
ter made  me;  and  now  I  am. resolved  to  make 
amends  for  my  past  extravagance  by  my  future 
economy ;  and  that  this  shall  be  a  lesson  and  a 
warning  to  me  which  I  will  not  forget.  Your 
offer  of  uniforms  is  most  kind,  and  I  can  hard- 
ly thank  you  sufficiently.    I  shall  ask  for  leave 


OONYEBSION. 


19 


next  year,  as  I  am  beginning  to  get  rather 
home-sick,  and  proportionately  tired  of  blne^ 
noses;  but  after  all  it  is  not  fair  to  grumble,  as 
I  really  like  this  place  very  well,  so  that  I  i^all 
be  happy  to  remain  here  for  some  time.  The 
bishop  is  very  civil  to  us,  and  they  are  very 
nice  people."  ^ 

He  had  already  begun  to  forsake  the  noise 
and  late  hours  of  his  mess  y^ompanions  for  the 
retirement  of  his  own  room,  and  his  changed 
habits  had  not  escaped  their  observation.  At 
this  time  an  officer,  then  a  captain  in  the  regi- 
ment, whose  consistent  and  earnest  Christian 
character  had  long  been  well  knowp,  returned 
f]:pm  England  with  his  young  wife;  and  hey 
became  the  honored  instruments,  in  God's  hand, 
of  leading  Maxy  to  the  knowledge  of  his  Sav- 
iour. Arriving  at  Halifax,  they  found  that  there 
were  some  in  the  regiment  whose  steadier  hab- 
its  seemed  to  hold  out  a  good  hope  that  they 
might  receive  the  word  with  gladness;  and 
among  them  was  Maxy  Hammond.  He  was  at 
this  time  in  the  heyday  of  his  youth ;  his  figure 
was  tall,  his  fttce  handsome,  and  his  countenance 
was  singularly  bright  and  prepossessing.  The 
officer  alluded  to  thus  describes  him:  "He  was 


OAPT.  H.  M.  HAMKOND. 


the  most  popular  man  in  the  regiment,  and  a 
great  &yorite  in  general  society.  He  had  never 
known  sorrow,  bnt  he  felt  the  unsatisfactory 
nature  of  his  life,  without  God,  and  without 
Christ,  and  he  yearned  for  something  better. 
He  was  said  to  be  among  the  steady  ones  at 
that  period ;  and  with  the  faint  hope  that  he 
might  be  induced  to  listen  to  the  truth,  we  in- 
vited him  to  come  and  drink  tea,  and  read  the 
Bible  afterwards.  On  the  night  in  question  he 
was  in  the  woods  moose-hunting;  but  almost 
beyond  our  hopes,  he  made  his  appearance  the 
next  Saturday  evening,  and  joined  with  us  in 
searching  the  Scriptures." 

Maxy  Hamiflond's  part  was  now  taken ;  there 
was  no  hesitation:  which  to  choose ;  of  him  no 
one  could  say, "  How  long  halt  ye  between  two 
opinions?  If  the  Lord  be  God,  follow  him; 
but  if  Baal,  then  follow  him."  Henceforth  the 
Lord  was  his  portion.  On  December,  1844,  he 
wrote  to  his  father  the  open  avowal  of  one  who 
was  first  rejoicing  in  the  hope  set  before  hiiti. 

The  Saturday  evenings  at  Captain  L- — 's 
quarters  became  now  stated  periods  for  read- 
ing the  Scriptures  and  for  prayer.  Three  or 
four  officers  of  the  regiment,  and  one  or  two 


CONYEBSION. 


21 


others  belonging  to  the  garrison,  in  process  of 
time,  joined;  and  at  these  happy  assemblies 
Captain  L^- —  and  his  wife  received  with  joy 
those  yonng  searchers  after  the  truth,  '^and 
expounded  unto  them  the  way  of  God  more 
perfectly." 

Of  the  early  meetings,  Mrs.  L writes 

thus:  "The  person  in  whom  I  am  most  inter- 
ested is  young  Mr.  Hammond :  his  mind  is  so 
honest,  his  disposition  so  frank  and  open,  his 
character  so  firm  and  decided.  He  is  no 
sooner  convinced  of  the  truth  than  ho  embraces 
it,  owns  it  before  all  the  world,  and  resolutely 

acts  up  to  it You  will  be  glad  to  hear 

how  well  our  Saturday  evening"  went  off;  Mr. 
Hammond  talked  and  asked  questions  with 
great  animation :  he  found  many  references  on 
prayer ;  dwelt  on  the  freeness  of  our  access  to 
God,  its  privileges,  and  the  happiness  of  re- 
ceiving blessings  in  answer  to  our  prayers." 

"  A  little  while  ago,  Mr.  Hammond  told  us 
it  was  quite  impossible  he  could  ever  get  up 
early  in  the  morning.  He  acknowledged  the 
value  of  a  quiet  hour  before  breakfast,  and  that 
he  was  liable  to  be  interrupted  all  the  rest  of 
the  day;  but  get  up  early  he  was  certain  he 


9i  OAPT.  H.  K.  HAMMOND. 

never  could.    A said,  *  WLen  you  have  a 

motive  strong  enough,  you  will  find  you  can ;' 
and  last  Saturday  he  told  us  that,  for  several 
months,  he  had  risen  at  seven,  cold  and  dark  as 
it  is.  We  congratulated  him,  and  he  laughed, 
and  said,  I  assure  you  when  I  turn  out  at 
seven,  I  am  astonished  at  myself.'  We  had  a 
most  happy  evening.  I  am  sure  no  one  who 
over  saw  our  little  band,  could  ever  again  dare 
to  say  that  religion  is  a  gloomy  thing.    Captain 

W says  that  he  has  now  for  the  first  tiite 

a  faint  idea  of  what  happiness  is.  Mr.  Ham- 
mond comes  in  with  a  countenance  perfectly 
radiant,  and  many  a  hearty  laugh  we  have  to- 
gether. The  other  day  wheni;he  ladies  dined 
at  the  mess,  poor  Mr.  Hammond  got  sadly  bul- 
lied. They  happened  to  hear  him  say  that  he 
should  give  up  smoking,  and  this  formed  the 
signal  for  attack.  Many  unkind  and  cutting 
things  were  said,  and  he  is  a  person  to  feel  it 
deeply;  but  his  is  a  most  unflinching  spirit. 

He  told  A afterwards,  that  when  he  went 

to  his  room  he  found  greater  comfort  in  prayer 
than  he  had  ever  done  before ;  and  added,  that 
he  ought  to  rejoice  in  being  able  to  suffer  any 
thing  for  Christ's  sake.    You  know  I  always 


OOKYBRBtON. 


admire  firmness  and  manliness  of  character; 
and  to  find  it  in  one  so  young,  and  united  to 
so  much  gentloness  and  humility,  is  very.beau" 
tiful.  He  is  indeed  a  devoted  young  Christian, 
and  his  one  desire  seems  to  be  that  his  tongue 
and  his  pen,  his  heart  and  his  head,  should  be 
given  to  his  Master's  service.'^ 


24 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


CHANGED  HABITS. 

Here  then  in  Halifax,  among  the  deadening 
influences  of  a  garrison  life,  as  at  Corinth  or 
at  Ephesus  in  the  early  morning  of  Christiani 
ty,  a  little  church  was  forming,  a  brotherhood 
marked  by  one  especial  feature  common  to  the 
church  of  old — the  inseparable  signet  of  every 
one  that  is  born  of  God — love  to  each  other. 
They  knew  that  they  had  passed  from  death 
unto  life,  because  they  loved  the  brethren ;  and 
of  these  there  was  one  whose  heart,  bound  up 
with  him  in  Christ,  was  knit  to  Maxy's  with  a 
love  like  that  of  David's  towards  Jonathan. 
Of  these  pleasant  days  that  friend  and  brother 
writes, 

"  I  have  a  lively  recollection  of  dearest  Ham- 
mond coming  to  my  room  with  difficulties  about, 
texts  of  Scripture  in  regard  to  the  communion. 
For  some  weeks  we  met  every  night,  reading 
the  word,  and  searching  it  as  a  new  book 
opened  now  for  the  iirst  time  in  our  lives. 
At  this  time  a  lady  gave  him  M'Cheyne's  Me- 


CHANGED  HABITS. 


25 


moir  to  read,  and  he  and  W were  deeply 

impressed  by  it.  About  this  time  also  a  garri- 
son Sunday-school  for  the  soldiers  was  in  oper- 
ation, under  the  superintendence  of  Dr.  T , 

the  garrison  chaplain.  We  used  to  meet  in  the 
week-day  with  Dr.  T at  the  ordnance  of- 
fice, for  some  study  of  the  lesson  of  the  follow- 
ing Sunday.  Our  young  recruits  joined  and 
gave  their  assistance,  being  taught  and  watered 
themselves  while  teaching  others.  Some  Chris- 
tian families  in  tha  town,  belonging  to  Mr. 

C ^s  congregation,  had  also  a  Wednesday 

evening,  at  each  other's  house  alternately,  of  a 
very  instructive  and  refreshing  kind ;  very  use- 
ful to  Christian  officers,  who  were  thus  at  once 
introduced  to  religious  friends.  These  were 
indeed  four  bright,  happy,  and  useful  years 
spent  in  Halifax,  when  the  Spirit  came  down 
in  many  places  in  the  town,  and  from#ime  to 
time  we  knew  of  souls  being  added  to  Christ, 

I  in  the  garrison  and  without  it From 

the  outset  of  his  religious  course,  Hammond 
was  always  clear  and  decided ;  there  was  no 
j'doubt  who  was  his  master.  His  light  began 
very  soon  to  shine  brightly.  Indeed,  the 
change  was  so  striking,  so  marked,  so  very 


20 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMM01»'D. 


real,  that  often  when  my  n^ind  has  been  in 
doubts  and  fears  and  misgivings,  I  had  only  to 
turn  to  this  living  example  daily  before  me, 
and  I  no  longer  doubted  of  the  truth  of  a 
change  of  heart  and  life  wrought  by  the  Spirit 
of  God. 

"About  this  period  an  order  was  issued  pro- 
hibiting officers  in  the  Rifle  brigade  fromjn- 
fitructing  their  men  as  they  had  been  doing ; 
in  the  mistaken  idea,  I  believe,  that  it  wouldi 
cause  too  much  familiarity  among  officers  and 
men.  Those  who  had  the  privilege  of  teach- 
ing in  the  same  school  will  remember  the  deep 
grief  which  the  order  caused  to  Maxy  Ham- 
mond. Nor  will  the  remark  be  forgotten 
which  he  made,  after  the  prohibition  to  teach : 
*Well,  if  I  must  not  teach,  I  suppose  there  is 
no  order  to  prevent  my  learning ;'  and  accord- 
ingly lb  sat  down  at  one  end  of  the  form  on 
which  some  of  his  own  men  and  others  were 
seated,  and  listened  to  the  teaching  of  one 
whose  position  should  have  been  at  his  feet." 

The  first  avowal  of  his  new  opinions  among 
his  old  friends  brought  with  it  its  trials. 
Warmly  attached  to  many  of  his  brother  offi- 
cers, he  viewed  with  sorrow  and  anxiety  their 


CHANGED  HABITS. 


2» 


continuance  in  the  way  that  leadeth  to  destruc- 
tion, and  sought  to  bring  them  to  be  partakers 
of  his  joy.  In  some  cases  the  result  was  that 
they  became  distant  and  reserved ;  but  iie  had 
taken  up  the  cross,  and  rejoiced  to  bear  its  re- 
proach. 

In  a  letter  to  his  mother  from  Halifax,  he 
alludes  to  these  trials  as  well  as  to  the  new 
[source  of  happiness  now  opened  to  him : 

"  January  2, 1846. 
"I  often  think  how  ungrateful  I  have  been 
you  and  to  father,  in  neglecting  your  kind 
idvice,  and  in  having  been  the  wilful  cause  of 
so  much  trouble  and  anxiety  to  you  both.  I 
)ray  to  God  that  this  may  never  be  the  case 
ig^n,  and  that  I  may  make  up  for  my  past 

rant  of  attention  and  ingratitude  by  my  future 
jonduct.  I  wish  you  could  know  Mrs.  L— ; 
she  is  the  sweetest  and  kindest  person  I  ever 

let  with  in  my  life ;  I  really  love  her  as  much 
is  a  sister.  But  you  may  easily  imagine  what 
[t  is  to  meet  with  a  person  you  can  really  call 

friend,  in  a  foreign  country,  where  you  meet 

dth  nothing  but  the  coldness  and  formality  of 
|;he  world ;  we  have  also  received  great  kind- 
less  from  several  other  people,  and  I  see  more 


28 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


and  more  every  day,  what  a  different  kind  of 
friendship  this  is  froln  that  of  the  world  in  gen- 
eral. But  we  cannot  expect  to  have  our  hap* 
piness  unmixed  with  annoyances,  and  indeed 
sorrow,  or  to  receive  it  without  trials;  and 
you  well  know,  no  doubt,  that  we  do  not  re- 
ceive any  encouragement  from  our  brother  offi- 
cers. It  is  very  painful  to  see  plainly  a  reserve 
and  coolness  among  many  who  were  before  our 
greatest  friends;  but  it  is  quite  impossible  to 
keep  on  the  same  terms  of  intimacy  as  before, 
as  our  tastes  and  ideas  are  so  opposed  that  we 
cannot  associate  with  them  as  we  used.  This 
certainly  is  very  painful ;  but  when  we  consider 
what  it  is  for,  it  is  also  very  necessary;  for 
what  sacrifices  ought  we  not  to  make,  if  it  in- 
terfere  in  any  way  with  our  duty  to  our  God? 
"Ever  your  affectionate  son, 

«M.  M.  HAMMOND." 

Maxy  often  alluded  to  the  very  great  diffi- 
culty he  experienced  in  abandoning  the  habit 
of  swearing.  He  used  to  think  that  nothing 
could  make  him  give  up  this  habit.  But  he 
overcame  it ;  and  once  only  was  he  betrayed 
into  its  commission.  And  then,  when  under 
circumstances  of  great  provocation  an  dath 


CHANGED  HABIT^i  a 


29 


passed  his  lips,  hi^  remorse  and  humiliation 
were  most  poignant.  He  soon  became  very 
jealous  of  his  time ;  regarding  it  as  a  gift  ta 
be  employed  in  the  service  of  his  Master.  He 
was  excessively  fond  of  music ;  and  had  hith- 
erto frequently  spent  whole  afternoons  in  lis- 
tening to  the  band  practising ;  but  this  he  now 
abandoned.  Yet  his  str(feig  love  for  music 
remained  unchanged.  Shortly  before  leaving 
JBJngland,  in  1853,  when  speaking  of  music,  he 
said  that  the  opera  was  the  only  worldly  amuse- 
ment which  had  cost  him  some  self-denial  to 
give  up.  "Not,"  he  added,  "that  I  could  enjoy 
it  now,  were  I  to  go ;  for  I  could  not  help  think- 
ing of  the  evil  connected  with  it."  And  then 
he  added,  with  much  animation,  "I  always  feel 
that  I  must  wait  till  I  get  to  heaven,  to  enjoy 
music.  I  often  feel  a  craving  for  it  which  can- 
not be  satisfied  here,  and  I  am  sure  that  the 
love  of  harmony  cannot  have  been  implanted  in 
our  natures  for  nothing." 

Speaking  afterwards  of  the  change  wrought 
in  his  whole  mind  by  his  conversion,  he  in- 
stanced the  interest  he  began  at  once  to  take 
in  books  of  general  information,  history,  poetry, 
etc.,  whereas  he  had  scarcely  before  read  any 


80 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


thing  except  the  newspaper.  Prescott's  "Fer- 
dinand and  Isabella,"  D'Aubign^'s  "Reforma- 
« tion,"  Butler^s  "  Analogy/'  Pollock's  "  Course 
of  Time,"  were  some  of  the  first  books  he  read 
at  Halifax.  And  the  habit  of  reading  books 
of  this  character,  adopted  in  the  first  instance 
from  a  sense  of  duty,  very  soon  became  as  at- 
tractive as  it  had  {deviously  been  irksome  •to 
him.  The'  natural  cast  of  his  mind  indeed  ap- 
pears to  have  been  remodelled,  and  fresh  hab- 
its to  have  been  adopted,  based  upon  princi- 
ples altogether  new.  The  responsibility  of 
man  in  regard  to  the  use  of  those  gifts  with 
which  the  Creator  has  endowed  him,  appears 
to  have  presented  itself  now  for  the  first  time. 
Hitherto  his  mind^  had  been  lying  almost  fal- 
low. He  perceived  now  the  inestimable  value 
of  those  talents  entrusted  to  him;  and  he  re- 
solved, as  far  as  in  him  lay,  to  "  redeem  the  time," 
tq  be  "  watchful,  and  strengthen  those  things 
that  remained*  that  were  ready  to  fall." 

In  the  beginning  of  May  he  gets  leave  for  a 
short  tour  in  the  United  States,  yi  company 
with  a  brother  officer.  Describing  this  trip  in 
a  letter  dated  June  12,  1845,  he  says, 

"Boston  is  a  fine  town,  quite  English;  I  sup- 


1 


CHANGED  HABITS.  |1 

pose  about  the  size  of  Bristol.  I  could  hardly 
fancy  myself  in  a  foreign  country,  but  for  the 
peculiar  dress,  long  hair,  and  beards  of  the 
people.  The  hotels  are  all  on  the  French  sys- 
tem. We  brought  with  us  several  letters  of 
introduction  for  different  places,  one  of  which 

produced  an  invitation  to  tea  from  a  Mr. , 

or.e  of  the  most  influential  men  in  Boston :  noth- 
ing can  equal  the  cordiality  and  friendship  with 
which  they  received  us ;  we  fgund  them  partic- 
ularly nice  people.  In  this  country  there  are 
no  dinner-parties,  a^d  they  meet  in  this  sociable 
way  at  tea ;  breaking  up  at  ten  o'clock,  which 
I  think  a  very  agreeable  and  sensible  custom. 

"  I  have  not  room  to  describe  all  we  saw,  so 
must  be  as  brief  as  possible.  The  burying- 
ground.  Mount  Auburn,  is  a  very  pretty  spot ; 
perfectly  natural,  full  of  fine  trees,  and  inter- 
sected with  drives  a^d  walks;  with  tombs  and 
monuments  in  all  directions,  for  the  most  part 
quite  plain  and  simple.  The  dockyard  is 
small;  we  saw  there  a  large  steam-frigate 
mounting  twenty-two  guns,  and  a  line-of-battle 
ship  building.  We  went  to  see  the  Bunker's 
Hill  monument,  a  fine  granite  obelisk  220  feet 
high,  with  a  good  view  of  the  town  from  the 


32 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


top.  The  state  prison  was  well  worth  seeiug, 
the  cells  v^y  clean,  all  the  prisoners  employed 
at  different  trades,  as  shoe-makers,  blacksmiths, 
weavers,  upholsterers,  etc.,  each  department 
having  its  separate  building;  they  are  not 
allowed  to  speak  to  one  another;  each  has 
his  own  cell,  where  he  takes  his  meals  and 
sleeps. 

:  "New  York  is  quite  a  different  description 
of  city  from  Bostjpn,  larger  and  more  bustling. 
Here  you  see  something  more  of  the  real  Yan- 
kees, of  whom  I  must  give  a  short  description. 
To  begin  with  their  good  qualities.  They  are 
very  civil  to  strangers,  for  the  most  part  well 
informed,  good  men  of  business,  and  a  remarka- 
bly energetic  and  enterprising  set.  I  believe 
them  to  have  been  much  wronged  and  misrep- 
resented by  authors,  from  a  national  prejudice 
that  we  *  Britishers'  should  not  condescend  to. 
In  conversation  the  Yankees  are  very  cool  and 
free,  using  many  extraordinary  expressions, 
which  amuse  me  much.  This  freedom  is  not 
meaut  impertinently,  though  it  might  appear  so 
to  a  stranger.  One  must  always  recollect  that 
it  is  a  free  country,  where  every  one  thinks  as 
much  of  himself  as  his  neighbor,  and  therefbre 


CHANGED  HABITS. 


88 


yon  are  seldom  ^sir'd,  or  spoken  to  otu^^rwise 
than  as  an  equal.  The  fact  of  being  a 'British 
officer  is  a  passport  that  secures  the  national 
civility  at  all  the  public  institutions,  and^  in- 
deed everywhere.  We  went  over  a  first-rate 
line-of-battle  ship  of  ninety-two  guns,  forty-two- 
pounders  ;  not  to  be  compared  with  our  own 
men-of-war  in  point  of  neatness  and  cleanliness, 
though  a  very  fine  ship.  The  armory  was 
composed  of  muskets  Haken  from  the  English,^ 
Yerj  unlike  the  armory  on  board  the  Inconr 
stant, 

"After  viewing  some  more  of  the  lions  here, 
we  went  on  to  Philadelphia,  where  we  arrived 
on  the  seventh,  and  put  up  at  a  remarkably 
clean  and  quiet  little  hotel,  with  not  more  than 
a  dozen  people  in  the  house.  We  were  much 
pleased  with  this  town,  from  its  quiet  and  clean- 
liness ;  and  the  trees  in  all  the  streets  are  some 
shelter  from  the  burning  heat.  While  we  were 
there  the  thermometer  was  96°  in  the  shade; 
and  indoors,  in  the^  coolest  passage,  at  93°. 
The  most  intolerable  part  of  the  heat  is,  that 
the*nights  are  as  hot  as  the  days;  so  that  in 
the  morning,  after  having  laid  on  the, outside 
of  the  bed  all  night,  you  awake  as  little  re- 


Hammond. 


3 


84 


CAPT.  M.  H.  HAMMOND. 


freshed  as  if  you  had  never  been  in  bed  at  all. 
Here  we  spent  our  second  Sunday,  and  were 
fortunate  enough  to  hear  a  sound,  faithful  ser- 
mon. Their  liturgy  is  the  same  as  ours,  with 
the  exception  of  some  little  alterations  and 
omissions.  The  Lord's  prayer  is  omitted  once 
or  twice.  The  singing  was  good :  the  psalm* 
of  a  different  version  from  ours.  The  Sabbath 
appeared  to  be  well  observed. 

"We  went  on  to  Baltimore,  and  thence  to 
Washington,  the  capital  and  seat  of  govern- 
ment; well  worth  seeing.  We  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  having  been  fairly  driven  out  by 
the  heat — '98®  in  the  shade — and  saw  the  state 
prison  Dickens  spoke  so  mach  of.  The  plan  is 
very  good,  all  the  passages  radiating  from  the 
centre,  so  that  one  keeper  could  have  his  eye  on 
the  whole  at  once ;  all  solitary  confinement,  of 
different  periods,  up  to  twenty-one  years. 

"  We  left  New  York  on  the  fourteenth  and 
started  for  West  Point,  where  is  the  Military 
Academy.  We  had  letters  to  two  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  establishment,  who  devoted  them- 
selves to  us,  showing  us  and  explaining  ef  ery 
thing  with  the  utmost  kindness.  From  haying 
been  ourselves  at  Sandhurst  we  found  this  very 


OHAirOED  HABITS.  t$ 

interesting;  and  it  so  happened  that  we  arriv* 
ed  at  a  very  lucky  time,  during  the  examina- 
tions. We  heard  some  of  the  examinations, 
which  were  remarkably  good,  and  made  those 
of  Sandhurst  appear  very  insignificant.  There 
are  about  two  hundred  and  eighty  cadets,  form- 
ed into  a  regular  battalion,  with  captain,  sub* 
alterns,  sergeants,  and  staff,  found  by  the  cadets.  ' 
They  have  besides,  a  commandant  and  a  com- 
missioned-officer over  each  company.  We  were 
treated  like  generals.  The  commandant  called 
on  us,  drove  us  to  see  the  parade,  and  we  were 
invited  to  inspect  the  battalion.  None  are  ad- 
mitted under  sixteen;  so  that,  on  the  whole, 
they  are  a  really  fine-looking  regiment.  Their 
dress  is  a  French  gray  bobtailed  coat,  cotton 
^belts,  caps  like  our  new  ones,  and  white  trous-. 
ers.  They  look  very  well  in  a  body,  though 
very  bad  singly.  They  are  worked  hard,  hav- 
ing only  two  months'  vacation  out  of  tliv  four 
years  they  are  there ;  except  two  months  when 
they  are  encamped  in  summer,  and  practice 
nothing  but  military  duties.  Unlike  our  col- 
leges, they  pay  nothing ;  but  are  paid  by  gov- 
ernment enough  to  find  them  in  every  thing 
while  they  are  there,  and  to  have  an  overplus 


36 


CAPT.  M.  H.  HAJfMONt). 


sufficient  to  pay  for  their  outfit  after  they  leave. 
West  Point  was  Washington's  greatest'strong- 
hold  during  the  rebellion,  by  which  he  com- 
pletely prevented  any  junction  of  the  British 
between  New  York  and  Canada,  and  where  he 
always  found  his  winter  quarters.  It  is  there- 
fore a  place  of  which  the  Yankees  are  not  a 
little  proud. 

,  1  "  We  went  on  by  Albany,  Utica,  Auburn, 
Rochester,  and  Buffalo  to  Niagara  Falls,  where 
we  arrived  on  the  twentieth.  It  is  quite  use- 
less my  attempting  to  describe  Niagara.  I 
have  hardly  yet  collected  my  senses.  It  is 
divided  into  two  falls,  the  American  and  the 
Horse-shoe,  with  an  island  between.  Their 
height,  which  is  about  one  hundred  and  sixty 
feet,  is  not  so  striking  as  the  immense  body  of 
water  which  unceasingly  tumbles  over.  To 
give  you  an  idea  of  the  weight  of  the  falling 
water,  the  room  where  I  am  now  sitting  is 
shaking  like  the  vibration  of  a  steamer.  Yes 
terday  we  went  through  the  ordeal  of  going 
under  the  great  sheet,  which  nothing  but  the 
foolish  curiosity  of  the  English  would  ever 
tempt  one  to  undertake  On  arriving  close  to 
the  Fall,  there  is  such  a  rush  of  wind  and  wstter 


OHANOBD  HABITS. 


87 


as  almost  to  knock  yon  down;  however,  by 
keeping  your  head  down,  and  going  boldly  on, 
you  soon  get  through  the  worst  part,  and  find 
yourself  230  feet  underneath.  Our  sable  guide 
stripped  us  of  every  thing  except  a  flannel  shirt, 
and  we  enjoyed  the  shower  bath  uncommonly ; 
and  that  is  about  all  that  you  get  by  going 
under.  The  deep  emerald  color  in  the  centre 
of  the  Horse-shoe  Fall,  occasioned  by  the  depth 
of  the  body  of  water,  is  unlike  any  thing  else 
m  the  world.  We  could  not  help  longing  that 
our  transatlantic  friends  could  have  seen  them. 
I  am  very  much  pleased  with  the  tour;  but  I 
also  feel  what  ?  blessing  were  the  various  op- 
portunities and  privileges  of  which  I  am  now 
deprived.  But  this  is  a  good  lesson,  to  teach 
us  how  we  should  value  those  things  while  we 
possess  them ;  and  also  that  we  must  not  lean 
upon  outward  ordinances,  but  that  our  sole 
trust  must  be  in  Him  alone  who  is  able  to  keep 
us  from  falling,'.  There  are  many  temptations 
in  travelling  which  are  apt  to  lead  us  to  be  too 
much  occupied  with  the  things  of  this  world, 
and  so  forget  God.  T  need  all  your  prayers  as 
well  as  my  own. 
"Ever  your  affectionate  son,         M.  M.  H." 


m 


CAPT.  H.  H.  HAMMOND. 


On  his  return  from  this  expedition,  Maxj 
Hammond  writes  again  to  his  youngest  broth- 
er, at  that  time  an  Eton  boy,  a  letter  remem- 
bered and  treasured  by  him  as  the  first  affec- 
tionate encouragement  from  Maxy  to  conse- 
crate to  his  d^ator  the  days  of  his  youth. 
This  early  letter  was  the  first  overture,  the 
first  exercise  of  that  tender  care  with  which  he 
-, watched  over  his  young  brother's  years — a  care 
which  was  not  bestowed  in  vain. 

"Halifax,  August  17, 1846. 

"  I  look  forward  with  much  pleasure  to  going 
home.  Three  years  is  a  long  time  to  be  sepa- 
rated  from  one's  rektions,  and  yet  it  has  passed 
wonderfully  quick,  and  I  may  say  very  happily, 
especially  the  last  part  of  it.    Depend  upon  it, 

dear  H ,  that  a  man  can  never  be  truly 

happy  until  he  has  found  a  higher  object  to 
live  for  than  what  the  world  affords.  I  used 
to  think  myself  quite  happy,  and  so  I  was.  But 
where  would  it  all  have  been,  if  I  had  been 
deprived  of  health,  and  had  been  unable  to 
enjoy  the  things  that  constituted  that  happi- 
ness? No ;  if  we  vish  to  find  that  peace  which 
the  world  can  neitlier  give  nor  take  away,  we 
must  live  to  Him  who  died  for  our  sins ;  ifoi 


OHANQBD  HABITS. 


a9 


then  only  can  we  find  what  real  happiness  and 
a  clear  conscience  is.  And  surely  we  are  never 
too  young  to  begin  a  good  work,  though  if  we 
put  it  off,  we  may  lose  it  for  ever.  Just  look  at 
Eccles.  11 : 9,  10,  and  12  :1,  13,  14;  and  read 
what  Christ  said,  in  Matt.  11 :  !88-30.  Forgive 
this  sermon.  I  have  said  so  much  to  you  be- 
cause I  love  you,  and  would  do  to  you  as  I 

would  be  done  by.    And  now,  my  dear  H ^ 

good-by.' ' 

'^Your  affectionate  brother, 


40 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


CHAPTER  V. 


HOME  AGAIN. 


Majcy's  Atlantic  voyage,  his  happy  return  to 
his  home,  longed  for,  but  looked  forward  to  as 
a  joy  even  yet  somewhat  distant,  came  suddenly, 
and  in  a  way  least  expected.  He  had  applied 
for  leave ;  but  two  other  officers  had  also  made 
application,  and  he  cheerfully  acquiesced  in  the 
colonel's  decision  in  their  favor.  A  sick  Mend, 
however,  returning  to  England,  and  needing 
his  kind  offices  on  th0  voyage,  furnished  the 
plea  for  a  second  and  successful  application; 
and  on  Oct.  14, 1845,  to  the  great  surprise  and 
delight  of  his  family,  he  landed  safely  in  Liver- 
pool. 

It  was  not  without  mingled  feelings  that 
Maxy  regarded  his  first  return  to  his  home. 
He  had  sailed  from  these  shores  in  every  sense 
a  boy,  and  had  returned  with  his  form  strength- 
ened into  its  full  development,  and  with  the 
thoughtful  cast  of  manhood  on  his  brow.  With 
his  outward  form,  his  inner  man  had  undergone 


HOME  AGAIN. 


il 


a  complete  and  entire  change.  Those  four 
years,  a  short  space  enough  in  the  life  of  a  man, 
an  imperceptible  fragment  in  the  course  of  time, 
had  bfcen  to  him  momentous  beybnd  expression. 
In  those  four  years  the  great  crisis  of  his  life, 
both  for  time  and  for  eternity,  had  been  reached. 
There  was  matter  in  oed  for  deep  reflection  on 
his  part,  as  the  meeting  with  his  friends  drew 
near ;  matter  too  for  solemn  gratitude  on  theirs, 
and  no  less  scope  for  interesting  thought.  He 
arrived ;  and  the  effect  of  the  change  that  had 
passed  over  him  was  manifest  to  us  all.  Bright 
as  his  face  was  in  his  boyhood,  it  was  remarked 
now  that  it  was  as  the  face  of  an  angel. 

His  thoughts  had  been,  as  we  have  said  be- 
fore, early  turned  towards  his  youngest  broth- 
er. He  knew  the  inestimable  value  of  impres- 
sions received  before  the  heart  and  affections 
have  become  hardened  and  blunted  with  sin ; 
and  he  eagerly  desired  for  this  young  brother 
that,  as  long  as  he  lived,  he  should  be  lent  unto 
the  Lord.  The  account  of  their  first  meeting 
is  thus  related : 

"The  first  time  I  met  Maxy  in  London,  I  did 
not  in  the  least  know  him.  I  was  at  Eton  at 
the  time,  and  we  met  at  Cox^s,in  Jermyn-street^ 


48 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


by  appointment.  After  our  first  greetings  were 
over,  we  walked  down  Piccadilly.  We  had 
not  gone  far,  when  he  said,  *I  hope  you  did  not 
mind  my  writing  to  you  about  religion.  The 
fact  is,  I  feel  very  strongly  about  it,  and  I  want 
you  to  feel  the  same.'  He  seemed  greatly  re- 
lieved when  he  had  thus  broken  the  ice ;  and 
when  we  came  home,  he  instantly  began  te&d- 
ing,  the  Bible  with  my  sisters  and  myself  every 
morning." 

That  the  growth  of  his  spiritual  life  had  been 
most  rapid,  was  as  evident  to  all  of  us  at  home, 
as  extracts  from  letters  show  that  it  had  been, 
and  afterwards  continued  to  be,  to  his  other 
friends:  '  tt  ' 

"Hammond  grows  stpace,"  one  of  them  says; 
"  his  knowledge,  wisdom,  and  courage,  cause  me 
to  blush,  but  I  hope  he  stirs  me  up  at  times." 
"Hammond  sends  affectionate  remembrances; 
he  is  growing,  and  is  a  lovely  character." 

And  do  not  these  extracts  furnish  a  happy 
evidence  that  not  in  vain  he  strove  to  be  con- 
formed to  the  image  of  Him,  who  grew  up  as  a 
tender  plant  and  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground? 
His  letters  all  show  that  he  was  daily  becon^ 
ing  more  like  him,  more  spiritually  minded. 


HOME  AGAIN. 


48 


But  this  year  of  enjoyment  at  his  home  was 
not  to  pass  without  a  cloud.  It  pleased  Him 
"in  whom  we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our 
being,"  to  take  to  her  rest  one  to  whose  instru- 
mentality, in  part,  Maxy  Hammond  owed  his 
knowledge  of  the  way  of  life — one  whose  hus- 
band was  his  dearest  friend,  and  at  whose 
house  those  happy  family  meetings  took  place 
on  Saturday  evenings  at  Halifax.  Still  a  young 
wife,  almost  yet  a  bride,  she  was  called  away 
by  the  voice  pf  the  heavenly  Bridegroom.  In 
words  full  of  tender  affection,  he  replies  to  a 
letter  from  his  stricken  friend : 

«  St.  Alban's  Coubt,  May  22, 1846. 

"My  dear  L-- ^It  grieves  me  to  think 

that  I  should  have  put  you  to  the  pain  of  again 
repeating  the  details  of  the  last  hours  of  your 
departed,  but,  through  the  mercies  of  her  Sav- 
iour, now  sainted  wife.  I  say  this,  because  I 
think  that  every  repetition  of  the  events  of 
those  awful  dayrf*  must  bring  back  the  scenes 
more  vividly  than  ever  to  your  mind.  .  Most 
earnestly  do  I  join  with  you  in  the  prayer  that 
God  will  let  her,  though  dead,  speak  to  the 
souls  of  her  friends,  and  to  mine  among  the 
number.    And  therefore  most  especially  do  I 


CD 


44 


OAPT.  H.  M.  HAMMOND. 


thank  you  for  such  a  full  account  of  her  last 
illness  and  death.  I  pray  God  that  her  holy 
example  of  living  and  dying  may  be  the  means 
of  quickening  me  to  increased  devotedness  to  his 
service,  and  to  a  more  living  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  to  a  deeper  sense  of  the  loving- 
kindness  and  faithfulness  of  my  God  and  Sav- 
iour. You  will  believe  me  when  I  assure  you 
that  I  loved  her  as  my  own  sister :  and  as  I 
have  told  you  before,  the  more  so  from  her 
having,  in  the  Lord's  hands,  been,  with  your- 
self, instrumental  in  leading  me  to  the  know- 
ledge of  that  Saviour  in  whose  presence  she 
now  is.  Most  deeply  therefore  can  I  sympa- 
thize with  you  in  your  irreparable  loss.  But 
no,  I  will  not  say  *  irreparable,'  for,  as  you 
remark,  the  Lord  can  more  than  fill  the  gap 
his  hand  has  caused.  And  may  God  enable 
you  to  realize  the  truth  of  this  promise.  May 
he  give  you  such  faith  as  may  enable  you  to 
look  behind  the  cloud  to  his  €ace  beaming  with 
love  and  mercy.  It  is  delightful  to  dwell  on 
the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  and  in  your  own 
case  it  is  indeed  a  subject  of  praise  that  he  has 
so  manifested  his  faithfulness  and  truth,  sup- 
porting you  throughout  this  dispensation.    To 


HOME  AGAIN. 


45 


him  be  all  the  glory  and  all  the  praise. . .  The 
Lord  be  with  you.    Ever  your  stncere  friend, 

"M.M.  H." 

The  few  months  of  Maxy's  leave  soon  expired, 
and  in  August,  1846,  he  writes  to  his  mother  a 
farewell  letter  from  Liverpool. 

"  My  DEAEEST  MoTHEB— ^  just  Write  you  a 
few  lines  to  thank  you  for  the  most  kind  and 
affectionate  letter  that  I  received  this  evening. 
I  should  like  to  express  my  gratitude,  but  I  feel 
that  I  cannot  do  so  as  I  would  desire  and  wish ; 
so  forgive  my  apparent  coldness  and  indiffer- 
ence. Your  letter  produced  in  my  mind  feel- 
ings of  sorrow  and  joy  at  the  same  time.  I 
felt  humbled,  under  a  sense  of  my  utter  unwor- 
thiness — ^believe  me  I  say  this  from  my  very 
heart — of  such  expressicis  of  affection  and 
esteem  as  you  were  pleased  to  bestow  on  me. 
As  a  son,  I  feel  also  that  I  have  done  much  to 
grieve  and  dishonor  the  best  of  parents ;  as  a 
brother,  that  I  have  frequently  given  way  to 
harshness  and  ill  temper.  But  although  I  feel 
and  have  felt  my  sinfulness  in  this  respect,  yet 
I  believe  it  has  been,  and  I  trust  always  will 
be  my  earnest  desire  and  prayer  to  show  that 
I  am  not  insensible  to  the  great  affection  of 


46 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


yovL  and  all  my  family.  With  regard  to  my 
religious  feelings  I  will  say  but  little.  If  I 
have  been  made  to  differ  at  all  from  what  I 
once  was,  I  would  ascribe  all  the  praise  and  all 
the  glory  to  a  merciful  and  long-suffering  God ; 
for  I  feel  daily  more  and  more  strongly  that 
all  has  been  of  his  doing,  none  of  mine.  Pray 
remember,  dear  mother,  that  I  am  a  weak  and 
sinful  creature,  an^  sjiiill  liable  to  fall ;  and 
pray  for  me,  that  He  who  has  begun  this  good 
work,  may  continue  to  carry  it  on.  .  .  I  was  so 
sorry  not  to  bid  Anne,"  an  old  servant,  "  good- 
by ;  tell  her  so,  and  thank  her  very  much  for 
her  in-^luable  assistance  in  my  packing.  And 
now,  dear  mother,  once  more  farewell.  You 
will  often  be  in  my  thoughts,  and  always  in  my 
prayers. 

"Your  very  affectionate  and  truly  grateful 
Bon,  •  «M.  M.  H." 

This  letter  portrays  very  forcibly  a  very 
marked  feature  in  Maxy  Hammond's  character, 
his  great  humility.  We  read  here  the  outpour- 
ings of  a  heart  which,  however  it  might  appear 
to  others,  was  in  his  own  sight  full  of  infirmity, 
full  of  defect.  How  earnestly,  with  what  sim- 
plicity  he  mourns  over  his  sense  of  indwelling 


HOME  AGAIN. 


47 


Bin»  of  the  old  man  itrnggling  with  the  new. 
"  What  I  would,  t^  .t  do  I  not ;  but  what  I 
hate,  that  I  do."  And  yet  he  who  writes  thus 
had  very  recently  been  described  as  "one  whose 
knowledge  and  wisdom  put  others  to  the  blush," 
as  "growing  like  a  plant,"  as  "shining  and 
growing  in  grace,"  as  a  "lovely  character." 
And  if  he  had  all  this  as  thus  rightly  described, 
whence  came  it?  Was  it  not  because  God 
"resisteth  the  proud,  but  giveth  grace  to  the 
humble"  because  "  the  high  and  lofty  One,  whose 
name  is  holy,  dwells  with  him  that  is  of  a  con- 
trite and  lowly  spirit?"  .  His  love  for  his 
"home" — that  word  which  has  no  synonyme 
in  any  other  language  than  our  own — was  very 
deeply  implanted,  using  it  in  its  widest  sense. 
His  affection  to  his  family  was  closely  inter- 
woven with  an  attachment  to  the  place  where 
his  days  of  boyhood  and  childhood  were  passed, 
and  he  clung  to  that  spot  with  all  its  associa- 
tions. By  nature  especially  unselfish,  his  spirit 
entered  into  all  the  little  interests  of  his  family 
circle. 

In  a  letter  to  his  father  from  on  board  the 
Britannia^  at  sea,  he  says :    • 

"Now  let  me  turn  my  thoughts  towards 


48 


OAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


home  and  all  that  I  have  left  behind  me.  1 
can't  tell  you  how  much  I  enjoyed  the  comfort 

of  your  and  H 's  company  to  Liverpool ; 

nor  can  I  thank  you  sufficiently  for  all  your 
kindness  and  generosity  t6  mo  at  all  times. 
However  unable  I  may  be  to  express  my  grati- 
tude, I  do  'feel  most  thankful,  and  would  wish 
you  to  believe  that  I  am  so.  I  felt  very  sor- 
rowful as  your  little  steamer  gradually  in- 
creased her  distance  from  us.  It  was  my  last 
glimpse  of  hcyme;  and  when  you  were  out  of 
sight,  I  remembered  that  I  was  now  separated, 
and  once  more  launched  upon  the  wide  world. 
I  need  hardly  l^ell  you  how  much  I  enjoyed  my 
happy  eleven  months'  leave.  But  I  look  for- 
ward with  great  pleasure  to  rejoining  the  regi- 
ment. I  should  not  like  to  be  idle  any  lon- 
ger. . .  .  That  the  Lord  may  bless  and  preserve 
you,  will  ever  be  the  prayer  of 

"  Your  most  affectionate  son, 

"M.M.H." 

The  battalion  was  removed  to  Montreal,  and 
the  first  letter  we  find  dated  from  that  place 
is  addressed  to  Dr.  T ,  the  minister  of  Hal- 
ifax, whom  he  loved  as  a  faithful  minister  of 
Christ  and  valued  as  a  friend. 


«* 


HOME  AGAIN. 


49 


"  Montreal,  October  24, 1846. 

"My  DiAR  Dr.  T 1  know  that  the  sub- 
ject that  will  chiefly  interest  you  will  bo  to 
hear  of  the  spiritual  welfare  of  those  whose 
pastor  you  have  been,  and  among  whom  you 
have  labored  for  a  few  years  not  without  suc- 
cess, through  the  mercy  of  our  Lord.  You 
would  be  gratified  to  hear  with  what  affection 
I  and  esteem  your  memory  is  regarded  by  those 
who  have  hearts  to  love  their  Saviour;  and  in- 
deed by  all,  whether  religious  or  not,  as  I  know 
from  authority  that  I  can  rely  upon,  is  the  same 
testimony  borne  to  your  kindness  and  unceas- 
ing attention.  I  don't  think  you  will  accuse 
me  of  flattery  in  telling  you  this.  I  do  so, 
thinking  it  may  be  a  source  of  some  comfort 
and  satisfaction  to  yau  to  know  that  *your 
labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord;'  and  well 
knowing  that  you  will  say,* To  the  Lord  be  all 
the  praise  and  all  the  glory.'  I  have  many 
things  to  tell  you,  subjects  of  joy  and  also  of 
sorrow.  Most  of  those  who  have  been  brought 
to  the  fear  of  the  Lord  have  been  going  on 
steadily  and  consistently,  as  far  as  I  can  learn. 
But  Satan  has  been  very  busy  among  us  too. 
Some  *  crucified  afresh  the  Son  of  God,  and 

HammoniL  4 


60 


OAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


counted  the  hlood  of  the  covenant  a  common 
thing/  ...  How  we  miss  the  Sunday-school. 
There  is  now  nothing  of  the  sort,  except  the 
lecture  on  Sunday  evening,  at  which  the  men 
can  attend.  Truly  we  all  need  to  be  brought 
together,  that  we  may  stir  each  other  up,  and 
by  precept,  example,  and  advice,  encourage  and 
assist  one  another  in  running  the  race  set  be* 
fore  us.  But  the  Lord's  ways  are  not  our 
ways,  and  I  doubt  not  it  is  good  for  us  to  be 
deprived  of  the  abundance  of  privileges  which 
we  enjoyed  at  Halifax.  Oh  that  it  may  Ic^ad 
each  and  all  of  us  to  be  applying  with  more 
earnestness  and  frequency  to  the  fountain-head ; 
that  it  may  be  our  blessedness  to  be  receiving 
fresh  supplies  out  of  the  fulness  that  is  treas- 
ured up  in  Jesus.  If  jou  have  at  any  time  a 
few  minutes  to  spare,  I  can't  tell  you  what 
pleasure  a  few  lines  would  afford  me.  I  should 
like  much  to  hear  how  the  schools— men's  and 
children's — are  getting  on,  what  number  you 
generally  muster  at  the  hospital  class,  and 
whether  the  vacant  places  have  yet  been  filled. 

Poor  C 1  so  he  is  gone.    Did  he  show  any 

satisfactory  evidence  of  change  before  he  died? 
I  am  most  anxious  to  learn  this.    And  what 


flOMB  AGAIN. 


51 


of  old  M ;  how  is  he?    And  does  his  heart 

appear  at  all  softened?  My  servant  desires  to 
be  respectfully  remembered  to  you.  My  kind 
regards  to  Mrs.  T — — ;  and  with  prayer  for 
your  own  welfare,  spiritual  and  temporal,  and 
that  the  Lord  may  bless  your  labors  to  the  sal 
vation  of  many  souls,  believe  me,  my  dear  Dr. 
T ,  ypurs  most  sincerely  and  obliged, 

'  « M.  M.  kammond;* 

\  Maxy  Hammond  never  omitted  an  opportu- 
nity of  securing  friendships  that  he  could  really 
value;  and  once  secured,  he  never  lost  them 
through  neglect  as  a  correspondent.  In  almost 
every  place  in  which  he  was  quartered  he  left 
some  real  friend  behind,  with  whom  he  after- 
wards kept  up  a  regular  intercourse,  and  to 
one  of  these  the  next  letter  is  addressed. 

•         "  Mqntreal,  October  10. 

"  My  dear  I Let  me  inquire  something 

of  you  and  yours  since  we  shook  hands  on 
board  the  Cambria.  I  hope  all  is  still  well 
with  you,  and  that  matters  are  going  on  as 
smoothly  and  quietly  as  when  I  left  Halifax ; 

and  what  of  Mr.  C ?    I  am  most  anxious 

to  hear  how  he  is,  and  how  he  has  been  since 
>  saw  him  last.    Pray  let  me  know,  as  I  am' 


In 


52 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


deeply  interested  in  him  at  all  times,  and  now 
"the  more  so,  when  the  Lord's  hand  is  npon  him. 
You  can  give  him  my  kindest  and  best  wishes, 
with  every  Christian  remembrance.  . .  I  had 
some  very  interesting  conversations  with  — — , 
and  I  do  hope  that  he  will  one  day  be  brought 
into  the  fold.  He  says  he  is  very  anxious  and 
very  desirous  of  turning  to  the  Lord,  but  that 
*he  cannot;*  he  thinks  he  is  *one  of  the  black 
sheep.'  What  an  extraordinary  notion.  I  en- 
deavored to  point  out  to  him  the  way ;  and  I 
trust  the  Lord  in  his  own  time  and  way  will 

lead  him  into  it.    Young is  much  in  the 

same  state  of  mind.  Yesterday  I  had  a  long 
and  serious  talk  with  him.  His  stumbling- 
block,  I  think,  is  the  fear  of  man.  But  I  have 
great  hopes  of  him.  If  we  had  more  faith,  and 
relied  more  upon  the  Lord,  how  much  might 
be  done.  How  simple  are  the  promises,  and 
how  slow  are  we  to  believe  them.  *  Lord,  help 
thou  mine  unbelief.'  I  found  a  great  change 
on  coming  here ;  many  new  faces,  very  few  old 
ones,  and  not  one  to  go  to  for  sympathy  or  ad- 
rice.  My  greatest  friend  is  my  own  servant, 
whom  you  may  perhaps  remember  at  our  Sun- 
day-school.   As  yet,  I  have  not  made  the  ac- 


HQMB  AGAIN. 


53 


quaintance  of  Mr.  W ,  though  I  have  called 

several  times.  You  will  be  rejoiced  to  hear 
that  0 is  an  altered  man:  one  who  be- 
fore was  decidedly  opposed  to  vital  religion, 
and  quite  impenetrable.  His  wife  died  in  the 
spring,  rejoicing  in  her  Saviour,  and  this  has 
been  blessed  to  him.  How  true  the  old  re- 
mark, *  Man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity.'  , 

You  will  grieve  to  hear  of  the  fall  of  poor • 

I  don't  know  the  particulars,  but  C told 

me  he  had  gone  back  to  the  ways  of  sin.  . . . 
Thus,  while  we  are  rejoicing  over  some,  we  are 
mourning  over  others.  Let  us  look  to  our  own 
hearts,  and  pray  God  to  search  and  try  us,  that 
we  may  discover  what  we  are  in  truth.  And 
when  we  l6ok  within,  what  do  we  behold,  but 
*  every  form  of  creeping  things  and  abominable 
beasts,  and  all  the  idols  of  the  house  of  Israel 
portrayed  upon  the  wall  round  about.'  What 
but  the  blood  of  Jesus  can  cleanse  us,  and  what 
but  the  Spirit  can  sanctify  us?  He  is  our  all, 
our  beginning,  and  He  must  be  our  end,  if  we 
would  win  heaven.  May  he  be  more  precious 
to  you  and  to  me  here,  and  may  he  be  our  ever- 
lasting portion  hereafter.  Yours,  in  the  best 
and  happiest  bond?,  «  M.  M.  HAMMOND." 


\ 


64 


.  CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


LETTERS. 


In  no  profession  are  the  members  of  one  - 
community  so  liable  to  sudden  separation  as  in 
,  the  army.  Here  to-day,  five  or  six  officers  may 
be  dispersed  to-morrow  to  the  four  quarters  of 
the  globe,  scattered  at  every  change  of  wind 
like  driftwood  or  autumn  leaves.  "Out  of 
sight,  out  of  mind,"  is  a  reproach  which  has 
grown  into  a  standing  proverb;  a  sad  reflec- 
tion on  the  shallow  depth  of  summer  friendship. 
Yet  even  that  friendship  which  is  not  of  the 
world,  but  based  upon  the  love  of  the  Saviour, 
needs  the  interchange  of  thought,  or  the  esrl 
pression  of  common  interests,  to  keep  it  from 
declining. 

So  when  the  little  group  of  officers  who  be- 
gan together  their  Christian  life  at  Halifax 
was  broken  up  and  scattered  abroad,  Maxy 
Hammond  suffered  no  want  of  care  or  diligence 
oiwhis  part  to  weaken  the  chain  which  bound 
them  together.  And  what  link  so  strong,  so 
fitted  to  resist  the  pressure  of  outward  circum- 


LETTERS. 


55 


stances,  as  the  adoption  of  a  common  season  of 
prayer?  A  proposal  to  this  eflfect,  with  some 
suggestions  for  subjects,  is  contained  in  the 
next  letter.  a 

"  November  23, 1846. 
"I  have  just  written  to  J F- — 


~,  and 

have  proposed  to  him  that  we  should  meet 
around  the  throne  of  grace  for  mutual  prayer 
on  the  first  of  January,  1847.  That  our  re- 
quests may  be  uniform,  I  have  hinted  at  the 
heads  of  our  prayers,  which  of  course  you  can 
u'ter  as  you  see  fit. 

Thanksgiving  and  praise — 

"For  the  mercies  of  the  year*past;  that  we 
have  been  enabled  by  God's  goodness  mutually 
to  help  one  another  forward  on  the  way  to 
Zion;  that  hitherto  the  Lord  hath  kept  and 
preserved  us  in  the  faith,  amid  so  many  dan- 
gers, trials,  and  temptations  from  without  and 
from  within ;  that  the  Lord  has  called  to  rest 
one  of  our  number ;  that  she  fell  asleep  in  Jesus, 
and  by  her  peaceful  death  bore  testimony  to 
the  truth  and  fiaithfulness  of  God. 

^^  Confession'—  . 

"The  sins  of  the  past  year,  both  of  commis- 
sion and  omission ;  our  sloth,  indolence,  unfaith- 


I 


5Q 


OAPT.  H.  If.  HAMMOND. 


fulness,  and  unfrmtfulness ;  our  neglect  of  duly 
and  improYing  opportunities  of  usefiilness ;  our 
sinful  compliance  with  the  ways  of  the  world 
and  worldly  men;  our  inconsistencieSi  and  the 
dishonor  to  God  and  blot  on  our  profession  by 
such  acts. 

^^Supplication — 

"That  we  may  have  grace  to  persevere  unto 
the  end. 

"That  our  faith  may  be  strengthened. 

"Tliat  love  to  €k)d,  and  by  it  love  to  man 
and  to  each  other  as  brethren,  may  be  deepened 
and  increased. 

"That  we  niay  be  humbled- 

"  That  we  may  be  more  faithful  in  confessing 
Christ*      / 

"That  fear  of  man  may  be  rooted  out  of  our 
hearts. 

"That  we  may  be  more  holy  in  life  and  con- 
versation; and  for  this  end,  that  the  Holy 
Ghost  may  sa;nctify,  renew,  and  cleanse  our 
hearts,  and  conform  us  to  the  image  of  Jesus. 

**  Intercession — 

"  For  each  other  individually. 

"For  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  on  the 
regiment. 


LBTTERS. 


Gl 


\ 


'*For  the  faithful  among  the  men. 

"For  the  ungodly  among  the  men. 

"For  the  backsliders  among  the  men 

"For  the  officers. 

"For  our  owri  families,  that  each  of  us  may 
be  made  a  blessing  in  his  own. 

"For  our  Christian  friends  at  Halifax,  espe- 
cially for  Mr.  0 in  his  sickness,  and*  for 

Dr.  T that  his  labors  may  be  blessed. 

"For  the  schools. 

"  These  are  some  of  the  requests  which  should 
form  our  prayer,  and  in  which  we  can  join  with 
mutual  interest.  Let  us  not  forget  the  tie  that 
bound  us  together  when  we  lived  together ;  and 
let  us  see  to  it  that  it  is /not  severed  either  in 
time  or  in  eternity.  Soon  we  shall  meet  to  go 
out  no  more.  If  we  live  looking  unto  Jesus, ' 
ve  shall-  stand  in  eternity  in  his  presence. 
What  a  hope  I  But  it  is  more  than  a  hope;  for  ' 
it  is  founded  on  the  never-failing  prayer  of  the 
Redeemer  himself:  'Father,  I  will  that  they  also 
whom  thou  hast  given  me  be  with  me  where  I 
am,  that  they  may  behold  my  glory,  which  thou 
hast  given  me ;  for  thou  lovedst  me  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world.'  That  this  may  be 
your  and  my  portion,  may  God  in  his  infinite 


■m 


58 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


mercy  grant,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen.    Ever  yours,  «M.  M.  H." 

This  proposal  of  mutual  union  in  prayer  on 
the  commencement  of  the  new  year  was  adopt- 
ed ;  and  we  see  with  what  delight  and  enjoy- 
ment Captain  Hammond  refers  to  it  in  the  next 
letter  to  a  brother  officer  then  in  England. 

"January  28, 1847> 

"  My  dear  N We  remembered  you  to^ 

gether  at  the  throne  of  grace  on  the  first  day 
of  the  year.  It  was  a  very  happy  day  to  me  j 
and  I  would  trust  that  our  prayers  found  their 
way  into  the  presence  of  God,  and  were  ac- 
cepted in  our  great  Intercessor  and  Mediator. 

On  the  same  evening  we  met  at  Mr.  W 's 

school-room,  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Haldane 

Stewart^s  invitation  to  prayer.    Mr.  W 

opened  with  some  prayers  from  the  Liturgy 
and  a  hymn,  and  then  a  portion  of  Scripture 
with  a  few  practical  comments  and  heart-search- 
ing remarks.  Next  an  extempore  prayer  for 
the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  our  coun- 
try, and  especially  for  the  congregation,  con- 
cluding with  a  hymn  of  praise.  It  was  one  of 
the  most  enjoyable  meetings  I  ever  was  privi- 
leged to  attend.     Oh  how  blessed  will  be  that 


LETTERS. 


09 


\ 


time  when  we  join  with  the  chotus  above ;  when 
our  Toices  shall  mingle  in  sweet  harmony  with 
the  thousand  thousands  of  the  Lord's  redeemed 
ones,  who  cease  not  day  and  night  singing  to 
the  praise  of  the  Lamb,  who  bought  them  with 
his  blood." 

During  nis  Suc*y  at  Montreal,  Maxy  Ham- 
mond interested  himself  in  endeavoring  to  amel- 
iorate the  ever-wretched  circumstances  of  those 
soldiers'  "^ves  who  had  married  without  leave ; 
and  he  briefly  alludes  to  them  in  the  next  let- 
ter to  his  father,  December  24, 1847. 

"  I  like  Montreal  daily  more  than  I  did ;  not 
that  I  think  the  place  in  itself  an  agreeable 
one,  but  I  have  now  settled  down  into  more 
regular  habits ;  and  my  time  for  the  most  part 
is  taken  up  in  different  ways,  so  that  it  passes 
very  pleasantly.  I  have  been  lately  busy  in 
hunting  out  the  wives  of  the  soldiers  married 
without  leave.  These  poor  creatures  are  de- 
nied any  indulgence  in  the  way  of  rations  or 
washing,  and  some  of  them  actually  have  to 
exist  on  threepence  or  fourpence  a  day,  out  of 
which  they  have  to  pay  the  rent  of  the  wretch- 
ed pig-sties  in  which  they  live,  and  perhaps 
support  a  child.    How  they  do  live  is  to  me  a 


60 


OAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


marvel.    We  have  got  up  a  small  subscription 
to  relieve  them,  and  have  given  them  some 
start  for  the  winter, 
"  We  are  much  affected  by  the  expected  death 

of  a  young  officer  of  the ,  who  is  now,  I 

fear,  fast  approaching  his  end.  He  was  taken 
ill  about  three  weeks  ago,  at  that  time  as 
hearty  and  strong-looking  a  man  as  you  could 
see.  Nothing  serious  was  anticipated  at  first, 
as  mainy  people  had  had  the  same  low  fever, 
and  it  was  not  thought  dangerous.  But  the 
fever  and  weakness  increased  upon  him,  in 
spite  of  all  the  doctors  could  do;  and  now, 
poor  fellow,  he  is  pronounced  beyond,  hope.  I 
saw  him  yesterday  by  permission  of  the  doctors. 
He  was  reduced  to  the  utmost  state  of  exhaust- 
ion, but  his  mind  and  his  faculties  were  left 
perfectly  clear.  Poor  fellow,  he  had  lived  a 
careless  and  ungodly  life,  and  now,  at  the 
eleventh  hour,  he  had  to  seek  his  Saviour.  It 
was  a  sad  and  solemn  scene,  but  he  showed  an 
anxiety  to  embrace  the  offer  of  salvation,  which, 
through  the  mercy  of  God,  I  trust  he  may  find 
at  jfche  last.  It  is  also  to  be  hoped  that  some 
of  the  thoughtless  ones  who  were  his  compan- 
ions may  be  aroused;  but  it  is  astonishing 


LBTTBBS. 


(tt 


w 


what  little  effect  these  things  have  on  ^he 
minds  of  men.  It  must  be  that  '  the  god  of 
this  world  hath  blinded  the  minds  of  them  that 
believe  not.' ... 

"And  now,  my  dear  father,  good-by;  best 
love  to  all,  and  a  happy  new-year  to  you. 
May  each  succeeding  year  bring  us  nearer  to 
our  heavenly  rest.  It  will  be  a  blessed  meetr 
ing  around  the  throne  of  the  Lamb,  and  there 
we  shall  part  no  more.  Your  affectionate  and 
grateful  spn,  "M.  M.  H." 

To  his  youngest  brother,  still  at  Eton,  but 
about  to  enter  at  Oxford,  he  writes : 

"  In  reading  a  sermon  the  other  day  by 
Flavel,  an  old  divine  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury,  I  met  with  a  simple  and  excellent  test  by 
which  to  prove  the  soundness  or  unsoundness 
of  a  sermon  in  the  present  day.  He  says,  *  He 
is  the  best  preacher  who  can,  in  the  most  lively 
and  powerful  manner,  display  Jesus  Christ  be- 
fore the  people — evidently  setting  him  forth  as 
crucified  among  them;  and  that  is  the  best 
sermon  which  is  most  full  of  Christ — not  of  art 
and  .language,^  This  was  Paul's  doctrine :  *  I 
determined  to  know  nothing  among  you,  save 
Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified.' .  .  .  ^  ^* 


C8 


OAPT.  M.  M .  HAMMOND. 


*^  I  really  feel  very  anxious  for  j(m  in  your 
Oidford  career.  I  know  how  many  temptations 
and  snares  are  likely  to  assail  you  there,  but  I 
really  believe  that  the  work  of  grace  has  been 
begun  in  your  heart ;  and  if  so,  we  know  that 

*  He  who  has  begun  the  good  work  in  you  will 
also  perform  it  unto  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ.' 
Remember,  dear  Harry,  that '  no  man  can  serve 
two  ma3ters.'  Religion  must  be  every  thing 
or  nothing  to  a  man.  If  we  would  serve  the 
Lord,  we  must  make  up  our  minds  to  do  so 
fully  and  mtirelyy  and  must  cheerfully  and 
gladly  put  up  with  the  sneers  and  scoffs  of 
those  who  know  not  God,  and  who  are  igno- 
rant of  the  blessedness  of  being  reconciled  to 
God  through  the  blood  of  Jesus.  We  must 
never  be  ashamed  to  confess  Christ  before  men, 
and  must  never  shrink  from  bearing  the  cross. 
Moses  esteemed  the  reproach  of  Christ  greater 
riches  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt,  and  chose 

*  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of 
God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a 
season,'  Heb.  11 :  25 ;  and  so  ought  we.  Read 
your  Bible  with  prayer,  and  pray  much  in 
secret.  Make  Jesus  your  friend  and  adviser, 
to  whom  to  go  for  all  that  you  need,  and  the 


LETTBBB. 


08 


peace  of  Ood,  which  passeth  all  understanding, 
shall  keep  your  heart  and  mind/' 
'    Some  insight  into  Captain  Hammond's  life 
and  character  at  this  period  is  given  in  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  of  a  letter  from  Mrs.  W . 

"In  the  beginning  of  1846,  Captain  Ham- 
mond came  to  Montreal.  That  winter  we  had 
a  prayer-meeting  each  fortnight  at  our  house, 
chiefly  attended  by  the  military,  and  which 
sometimes  numbered  over  twenty.  I  remember 
the  first  time  he  was  asked  by  my  husband  to 
take  his  part ;  which  he  did  after  a  little  hesi- 
tation, and  with  an  earnestness  and  solemnity 
which  struck  us  in  so  young  a  man.  And  fre- 
quently Mr.  W used  to  say  to  me,  *  Oh,  if 

every  Christian  man  adorned  the  doctrine  of 
God  his  Saviour  as  Captain  Hammond  does,  in 
walking  circumspectly  and  giving  no  occasion 
to  the  enemy  1' .  .  .  We  had  very  pleasant 
country  quarters  in  the  neighborhood,  to  which 
he  walked  sometimes  to  breakfast,  or  in  the 
Qvening,  when  he  was  always  hailed  witb' de- 
light, especially  by  a  little  girl  who  was  living 
■^ith  me,  who  had  some  secret  treasures  of 
birds'  nests  to  show  him.  This  child  died  after- 
wards, but  ever  spoke  of  him  and  what  he  said 


64 


OAPT.  V.  X.  HAMMOND. 


to  her  with  so  much  a£fection;  giying  good 
hope  that  God  had  blessed  the  nursing  of  the 
good  seed  in  her  joung  heart  A  remark  of  his 
recalls  itself  at  this  moment.  He  was  speaking 
of  one  in  whom  we  were  mutually,  interested, 
and  he  said,  *  I  should  be  more  satisfied  if  I 
saw  a  deeper  conviction  of  sin.  But  why  should 
I  set  up  a  standard,  when  I  remember  how  Ood 
dealt  with  me?  It  was  so  gradual,  that  not 
until  I  had  been  drawn  to  the  Saviour  by  cords 
of  love,  did  I  know  or  feel  any  thing  of  the 
bitterness  of  sin.'" 

During  the  time  that  Captain  Hammond  was 
at  Montreal,  his  attention  was*drawn  to  a  pri- 
vate in  the  Rifles  named  M ,  who  was 

dying  of  consumption  "in  the  hospital.  From 
his  teaching  this  poor  man  heard  and  drank  in 
the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Speedily  the  sick  man  rejoiced  in  the  full 
assurance  of  his  acceptance ;  and  sending  for 
comrade  after  comrade,  not  only  proclaimed 
the  good  news,  but  urged  each  and  all  to  hasten 
to  the  loving  Saviour.  The  fatal  disease  went 
on.  In  the  weary  sleepless  night,  as  the  patient 
tossed  upon  his  pillow,  the  stillness  was  broken 
by  the  sentry's  challenge,  -  and  the  familiar 


/ 


LJBTTEBS. 


66 


"All 's  well/'  fell  on  his  ear.  The  dying  sol- 
dier looked  up :  *'A11  i^  well/'  he  said;  "all  is 
well/'  he  fainl^ly  repeated.  A  very  short  time 
after,  the  "Dead  March  in  Saul"  was  heard; 
and  a  funeral  party  with  arms  reversed  passed 
along  the  streets  of  Montreal.  All  was  well 
withM— 


■uunoBd. 


66 


CAPT.  M.  M    HAMMOND. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


EMIGRANT  FEVER. 

The  year  1847  was  one  marked  by  heavy 
judgments  and  distress  of  nations.  =  Foremost 
among  them  in  woe  stood  unhappy  Ireland. 
In  her  distress  she  poured  forth  her  children 
from  her  unhappy  shores  to  seek  for  rest  in 
another  land.  Yet  not  by  flight  was  the  chas- 
tisement to  be  escaped.  The  fatal  poison  cir- 
culated in  the  frames  of  the  people,  and  lurked 
in  the  rags  that  hung  about  *their  wan  and 
wasted  forms.  With  the  arrival  of  the  first 
emigrant  ship  at  Grosse  Isle,  the  scourge  ap- 
peared anew ;  and  some  idea  of  the  miserable 
condition  of  these  unfortunate  people  may  be 
gathered  from  the  following  description. 

"  Montreal,  June  28, 1847. 

"The  poor  emigrants  have  been  passing  up 
the  country  for  the  last  three  weeks.  Death, 
disease,  starvation,  and  misery,  seem  to  be  the 
nnmerciful  attendants  of  these  people  wherever 
they  go.  The  deaths  at  Grosse  Isle,  the  quar- 
antine station,  have  been  very  numerous,  aver- 


EUIGBAi^T  FEVER. 


6t 


f:f.y  { 


^1 


\ 


aging  fr^m  sixty  to  eigbtj  daily.  Here  too,  at 
Montreal,  want  and  typhus  are  carrying  them 
off  like  sheep.  Whole  families,  in  several  in- 
stances, have  been  swept  away,  leaving  per- 
haps one  to  tell  the  tale.  They  send  them  as 
quickly  as  possible  up  the  country;  but  it  is 
the  opinion  of  the  principal  medical  man  who 
attends  them,  that  not  more  than  one-half  will 
ever  reach  their  journey's  end.  Is  it  not  sad  ? 
These  poor  creatures  are  living  in  sheds  that 
have  been  roughly  put  together  for  this  pur- 
pose. None  but  the  sick  are  allowed  to  remain 
above  a  day  or  two.  These  sheds  are,  in  fact, 
so  many  hospitals  crowded  with  sick ;  so 
crowded  are  they  as  to  be  obliged  to  put  three 
in  a  bed. 

**  And  now,  my  dearest  mother,  good  by.  I 
delight  to  think  of  you  all,  and  particularly  be- 
fore the  throne  of  grace.  I  need  not  ask  you 
to  do  likewise.    Ever  your  affectionate  son, 

«M.  M.  H." 

To  these  scenes  of  suffering  many  noble- 
hearted  men  hastened.  The  minister  of  Christ 
was  ttiere,  to  speak  of  One  wl^o,  at  the  hour  of 
death,  could  bestow  the  gift  of  eternal  life. 
The  faithful  servant  of  Christ  was  there,  who, 


68 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


for  his  Master's  sake,  cheerfully  volj^nteered, 
and  yielded  his  life  in  a  service  not  less  peril- 
ous than  the  plain  of  Balaklava  or  the  fatal 
Redan. 

Maxy  Hammond  was  very  early  precluded 
from  sharing  in  these  labors,  by  a  stringent 
order  which  prohibited  any  officer  from  visiting 
the  sheds,  lest  the  infection  should  be  communi- 
cated to  the  troops.  Nevertheless  he  aided  the 
sufferers  as  far  ^g  possible,  both  by  providing 
th^m  with  necessaries,  and  by  making  arrange- 
ments  for  their  comfort.  A  noble  trait  was 
shown,  on  this  occasion,  by  the  men.  The  vari- 
ous companies  kept  back  daily*  a  proportion  of 
their  rations  for  the  use  of  the  sick ;  and  this 
example  was  followed  by  the  Fifty-second  regi- 
ment, and  two  companies  of  artillery  then  in 
the  garrison ;  the  officers  providing  a  cart  for 
the  conveyance  and  distribution  of  the  meat 
among  the  sick. 

"  The  French  people,"  writes  a  private  rifle-, 
man,  "  when  they  met  Captain  Hammond  in  the 
streets,  hearing  of  his  kindness  to  the  poor, 
would  uncover  their  heads,  and  invoke  bless- 
ings upon  him."  Four  years  afterwards,  when 
a  rifleman  was  in  the  marke^place  at  Kingston, 


EMIGRANT  FEVER. 


69 


some  country  people,  observing  the  uniform, 
came  up  and  inquired  of  the  wearer  whether 
the  same  kiud  officer  was  still  in  the  regiment 
who  had  saved  their  lives  at  Montreal. 

One  by  one  those  whose  duty  and  zeal  led 
them  to  the  fever-sheds  weie  stricken  them- 
selves, and  among  them  two  of  Maxy  Ham- 
mond's own  friends;  and  at  their  bedsides, 
night  after  night,  for  a  long  and  harassing 
period,  he  watched  and  nursed  them  with  a 
brother's  tenderness  and  love.  The  two  friends 

who  sicker ed  were  Mr.  L ,^  of  her  majesty's 

royal  navy,  and  Mr.  W ,  the  clergyman  of 

Montreal.  Maxy  alludes  to  their  illness  in  a 
letter  dated  July  20, 1847. 

"  My  dear  Father — I  fear  my  note  to  you 
by  the  last  mail  may  have  caused  you  some 
anxiety.  Thanks  be  to  God,  I  am  in  no  way 
the  worse  for  my  attendance  on  my  sick  friends. 
You  will  see  an  account  of  their  death  in  the 
*  Berean^  I  send.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  emi- 
grants, Mr.  W organized  a  small  band 

from  among  his  congregation  to  attend  to  the 
wants,  temporal  and  spiritual,  of  the  sick  and 
dying  at  the  emigrant  sheds.  They  were  inde- 
fatigable in  their  exertions,  until  one  by  one 


I 


10 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMONi>. 


they  caught  the  fever  raging  among  these  un- 
happy people.    Mr.  L was  the  first  who 

was  laid  up.  His  illness  lasted  thirteen  days, 
and  ended  in  \m  death.  During  this  time  I 
was  constantly  with  him,  by  day  and  night, 

until  his  removal.    Mr.  W was  taken  ill 

about  three  days  after  Mr.  L ,  and  died 

about  three  days  after  Mr.  L .    I  was  with 

him  during  the  last  three,  days  of  his  illness. 
Of  the  rest  of  the  party  who  visited  the  sheds, 
one  more  died,  and  three  more  caught  the  fever, 
but  are  recovering.  The  dispensation  is  a 
heavy  one,  and  is  deeply  felt  by  the  congrega- 
tion. It  appears  strange  that  these  men  should 
be  taken  away  in  the  midst  of  usefulness,  fall- 
ing victims  to  their  devotedness  to  their  Mas- 
ter's cause  and  their  love  to  their  fellow-crea- 
tures. We  can  only  say,  *It  is  ilie  Lord ;  let 
him  do  what  seemeth  him  good.'  Both,  how- 
ever, died  in  the  full  and  certain  hope  of  the 
resurrection  to  eternal  life  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ;  and  therefore  the  loss  is  ours, 
not  theirs;  for  it  is  better  to  *  depart,  and  be 
with  Christ.' " 

Another  who  suffered,  but  who  recovered 
from  the  malignant  epidemic,  writes  in  gratefu/ 


a 

t 


\ 


1 1 


EMIGRANT  FEYEB. 


71 


■ 


\  i 


acknowledgment  of  Captain  Hammond's  atten- 
tion, 

"  I  mention,  as  a  proof  of  his  love  to  the 
Lord's  people,  the  fidelity  with  which  he  at- 
tended his  friend,  and  my  father  in  Christ, 
Captain ,  R.  N.,  during  his  last  illness,  oc- 
casioned by  the  terrible  scourge  of  which  I  lay 
sick  at  the  same  time As  soon  as  Cap- 
tain L and  myself  were  prostrated.  Cap- 
tain Hammond  came  and  insisted  on  attending, 
I  may  say,  both  of  us,  although  more  especially 
the  former.  The  risk  of  this  was  such,  and  the 
demand  for  nurses>so  great,  that  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  get  adequate  or  even  any  sort  of 
attendance.  Hence  the  merit  of  Captain  Ham- 
mond's services  was  all  the  greater  j  and  most 
diligently  and  faithfully  did  he  give  his  ser- 
vices. All  through* many  a  weary  night,  with 
the  most  affectionate  watchfulness,  answering 
every  request  and  anticipating  every  want,  did 
he  most  fearlessly  and  in  the  most  disinterested 
manner  devote  himself  to  the  sick.  It  was  won- 
derful that  he  escaped  tae  disease,  Risking  him- 
self as  he  did.  But  the  Lord  had  the  work  for 
him  to  do,  and  selecting  the  fit  instrument  for 
it,  then  He  spared  him.  Poor  L ,  however, 


u 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


died ;  but  his  constant  attendant,  almost  day 
and  night,  through  an  illness  of  fourteen  or  fif* 
teen  days,  was  Captain  Hammond,  He  proved 
in  a  beautiful  manner  how  deeply  he  was  actu- 
ated by  that  Christian  love  whose  brightest 
feature  is  universality.  I  am  sure  his  was  a 
love  that  embraced  all  he  ever  met  with.  On 
his  visit  to  me,  he  used  to  offer  up  prayer,  and 
repeat  suitable  passages  of  Scripture ;  and  until 
I  was  quite  well  he  never  omitted  at  any  time 
to  come  and  see  me." 


// 


I  /  • 


)  I 


'ii 


USEFULNESS. 


ft 


1 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

USEFULNESS. 

In  tlie  early  part  of  August,  1847,  the  bat- 
talion was  moved  from  Montreal  to  Kingston 
and  Toronto.  Soon  aftei  he  wrote  to  Dr. 
T and  to  several  others,  clergymen  or  in- 
timate friends,  on  a  subject  that  had  been  much 
on  his  mind  for  some  months ;  that  is,  the  idea 
of  entering  the  ministry.  Most  of  those  friends 
whom  Captain  Hammond  consulted,  dissuaded 
him  from  taking  this  step ;  and  he  abandoned 
the  idea  soon  after,  as  we  learn  from  the  fol- 
lowing letter. 

"Kingston. 

"  My  dear  M ^You  are  under  a  wrong 

impression  in  thinking  thai  I  first  thought  of 
entering  the  ministry  during  the  fatal  pesti- 
lence at. Montreal,  which  carried  off  so  many 
faithful  servants  and  ministers  of  Christ.  It 
was  first  pressed  upon  me  in  April  last ;  and 
being  proposed  to  me  in  this  manner,  I  felt  I 
was  in  duty  bound  to  ascertain  the  Lord's  will 
in  so  important  a  matter,  lest  on  the  one  hand 


t4 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


I  should  be  shrinking  from  my  duty  as  a  pro- 
fessed servant  of  Christ,  and  lest  on  the  other 
I  should  blindly  follow  natural  impulse  and  the 
dictates  of  my  own  fleshly  mind,  in  opposition 
to  the  leadings  of  God's  providence.  Accord- 
ingly I  wrote  to and /after  making  it 

a  subject  df-earnest  prayer  to  God.  All  agree 
in  advising  me  to  remain ;  so  that  I  c  jnot, 
ought  not,  would  not  act  in  opposition  to  the 
advice  of  so  many  friends ;  and  my  mind  is  per- 
fectly at  rest  as  to  the  course  I  ought  to  pur- 
sue. My  way  appears  plainly  marked  out  by 
God's  providence,  and  this  is  all  I  want  to 
know." 

To  his  brother  E he  writes,  while  on  a 

visit  to  his  friend  L at  Quebec,  Oct.,  1847, 

"My  dear  E 1  often  reproach  myself 

with  neglect  and  idleness  in  not  writing  to  you ; 
but  I  often,  yes  always,  think  of  you  and  dear 
M ,  and  especially  do  I  delight  in  plead- 
ing for  you  both  when  I  present  my  own  poor 
supplications  to  our  common  Lord.  Nothing 
brings  you  so  vividly  before  my  eyes  as  when 
engaged  in  prayer ;  and  I  am  sure  that  nothing 
acts  so  powerfully  to  increase  our  love  and 
strengthen  the  ties  of  natural  affection.  Though 


f  / 


u 


USEFULNESS. 


t5 


i 


we  cannot  see,  bear,  or  speak  to  one  another, 
though  we  are  many  thousands  of  miles  apart, 
yet  we  can  pray  for  one  another ;  and  in  so  do- 
ing, who  can  estimate  the  amount  of  good  that 
we  may  draw  down  upon  each  other's  heads? 
Let  us  think  of  this  whenever  we  approach  the 
mercy-seat.  Let  us  ask  for  a  rich  supply  of 
spiritual  blessings,  and  as  far  as  we  can  judge 
of  one  another's  peculiar  wants,  trials,  difl&cul- 
ties,  and  temptations,  let  us  ask  in  faith  that 
these  may  be  bestowed  upon  us  out  of  the  inex- 
haustible treasures  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

To  another  friend  he  says, 

"  We  are  getting  on  comfortably  here,  and  a 
door  of  usefulness  has  been  opened  to  us  among 
the  men.  On  Sunday  and  Wednesday  even- 
ings, we  have  a  meeting  in  the  school-room  for 
prayer  and  reading  the  Scriptures,  with  a  few 
practical  remarks.  The  meeting  has  averaged 
from  thirty-five  to  forty,  and  we  hope  some 
souls  will  be  led  to  Jesus  by  this  humble  means. 
Help  us,  dear  brother,  with  your  prayers.  Go 
in  the  strength  of  Jesus ;  make  him  your  all  in 
all ;  be  diligent,  be  earnest,  be  watchful ;  seek 
a  spirit  of  prayer  and  a  close  conformity  to 
Jesus  in  your  mind;,  and  remember  in  your 


u 


CAPT.  M.  Iff.  HAMMOND. 


prayers,  for  Christ's  sake,  your  affectionate 
friend,  « M.  M.  n." 

After  the  battalion  was  removed  from  Mon- 
treal, the  right  w^ing  was  sent  to  Toronto,  and 
the  left  wing,  to  which  Maxy  Hammond  was 
fioon  afterwards  transferred  on  promotion,  went 
to  Kingston.  Of  his  usefulness  at  this  time, 
we  may  gather  some  idea  from  a  communica- 
tion furnished  by  a  city)  missionary,  who  was 
at  that  time  a  private  in  Captain  Hammond's 
company. 

"Captain  Hammond's  appearance  among  us 
revived  all  those,  both  officers  and  inen,  who 
were  lovers  of  the  Saviour.  An  evening-school 
was  established  in  the  fort,  where  six  soldiers, 
who  could  neither  read  nor  write,  made  their 
first  effort.  In  the  course  of  a  month  the  num- 
ber gradually  increased  to  fifty,  and  eventually 
to  near  eighty  men,  none  of  whom  were  at  first 
capable  of  reading  the  word  of  God.  Soon 
after,  a  proposal  was  made  that  two  religious 
meetings  should  be  held  in  the  school-room 
every  week,  on  Wednesday  and  Sunday  even- 
ings. On  hearing  the  suggestion.  Captain 
Hammond  replied,  *  Yes,  it  is  prayer  that  must 
bring  the  blessing  down ;'  and  these  meetings 


» ' 


USEFULNESS. 


IT 


were  soon  afterwards  established.  A  bugle 
sounded  the  call  to  the  evening-school  at  half- 
past  six,  and  the  same  sound  was  the  summons 
to  the  meeting.  On  the  first  occasion,  the  vo* 
randah  was  lined  with  men  and  many  officers, 
some  of  whom  viewed  this  proceeding  with  sig- 
nificant looks,  and  those  who  wc  :q  not  ashamed 
to  confess  Christ  before  men  passed  on  through 
the  barrack  square,  thus  evidencing  the  sincer* 
'  ity  of  their  faith. 

"  For  the  noble  purpose  of  suppressing  drunk- 
enness, he  procured  competent  lecturers  on  *  tem- 
perance ;'  the  result  of  which  was,  that  many  of 
the  men  relinquished  and  never  resumed  the 
use  of  intoxicating  beverages.  In  addition  to 
+his,  reading-rooms  were  .established,  a  supply 
of  books  procured,  and  prizes  were  given  for 
the  regular  attendance  of  the  men  at  the  even- 
ing-schools. For  all  these  various  objects, 
funds  were  provided  from  Captain  Hammond^s 
pur3e. 

"Further,"  the  same  pen  continues,  "the 
amount  of  spiritual  good  among  the  rich,  and 
temporal  good  among  the  poor,  eiGfeeted  in  the 
parish  and  city  by  Captain  Hammond,  during 
our  stay  there,  call  only  be  fully  known  at  the 


18 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


great  day.  Through  his  instrumentality  the 
church  itself,  as  well  as  the  ground  connected 
with  it,  was  put  in  order,  and  the  clergyman's 
house  provided,  and  the  school  greatly  assist* 
ed.  Captain  Hammond  rose  early,  and  after 
spending  some  time  in  private,  called  in  his 
two  servants  to  family  prayer.  At  nine  o'clock 
on  Sabbath  mornings  he  went  into  the  chil- 
dren's school,  and  after  marching  his  company 
to  the  garrison  church,  proceeded  to  the  hospi- 
tal, where  he  would  conduct  a  service  in  some 
one  uf  the  wards.  His  influence  probably  had 
considerable  effect  among  the  men  in  checking 
desertion.  Although  for  nineteen  months  with- 
in a  few  miles  of  the  frontier,  Only  one  man 
deserted,  while  desertions  were  frequent  with 
the  men  of  other  corps." 

The  love  of  his  men,  and  the  influence  he 
possessed  over  them — of  such  vital  importance 
to  an  ofl&cer — may  be  ascribed,  not  less  to  the 
spirit  that  entered  into  all  their  interests  and 
wants,  difficulties,  pleasures,  and  duties,  than 
to  his  other  sterling  qualities.  His  men  were 
constantly  in  his  thoughts.  The  army  was  his 
profession,  and  he  regarded  it  as  a  mighty 
organ,  as  the  police  of  the  nation,  the  end  of 


\ 


USEFULNESS. 


19 


which  was  peace.  It  was  in  this  light  he  loved 
to  look  at  it ;  and  thus  viewing  it,  he  honored 
and  valued  the  men  who  composed  it.  They 
were  his  inferiors  in  rank,  but  part  of  one 
great  body,  and  all  his  sympathies  were  due  to 
them.  Their  higher,  holier  interests  absorbed 
his  attention,  but  not  to  the  exclusion  of  minor 
efforts  for  their  pleasure  and  enjoyment.  Thus 
he  writes : 

"  Kingston,  Jan.  19, 1848. 

"I  am  going  to  establish  a  reading-room,  if 
I  can  get  one,  for  the  men,  in  the  hope  of  keep- 
ing some  out  of  the  canteen  during  the  winter 
evenings.  And  I  have  been  thinking  of  get- 
ting up  singing  among  them  with  the  same 
view;  but  this  I  have  not  yet  decided  upon. 
Idleness  is  the  great  snare  of  the  soldier ;  and 
it  is  a  great  thing  to  find  any  thing  ifor  them 
that  will  occupy  and  interest  them  at  the  same 
time.  The  Bible-classes  continue  to  be  well 
attended,  and  give  encouragement  to  hope  that 
the  good  seed  may  not  be  sown  in  vain." 

To  those  who  were  for  the  first  time  enter- 
ing upon  the  "new  life,"  often  in  doubt,  often 
in  despondency,  often  in  weakness,  the  counsel 
of  such  a  one  as  Maxy  Hammond  must  have 


80 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


been  invaluable  indeed.  It  was  easy  to  see,  in 
his  pleasant  ways,  in  his  bright  and  radiant 
countenance,  that  the  hppe  of  which  he  spoke 
was  no  unreal,  no  exclusive  thing,  but  one  oi 
which  all  might  be  partakers.  And  this  pe« 
culiar  happiness  of  manner  had  no  small  effect 
upon  those  who  needed  some  stay,  some  encour- 
agement in  the  outset  of  their  Chri«itian  life. 
Such  a  helper  was  he  to  the  writer  of  the  an- 
nexed letter. 

"Kingston,  Canada,  Nov.  8, 1866, 
"When  I  had  emerged  from  darkness  into 
the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God,  he 
was  the  first  one  to  whom  I  communicated  my 
changed  sentiments  on  religious  subjects.  He 
took  me  by  the  hand,  encouraged  me  by  his 
advice,  got  me  installed  as  a  teacher  in  St. 
James^  Sunday-school,  over  which  he  was  su- 
perintendent ;  and  several  times  in  the  week 
did  he  call  at  my  office,  and  after  office-liours 
bring  me  forth  to  the  bedside  of  some  poor 
sick  or  dying  fellow-sinner.  He  would  occa- 
sionally make  me  read  the  Scriptures,  and  he 
would  engage  in  prayer ;  and  so  we  went  from 
houge  to  house,  where  he  was  well  known  and 
welcomed.    Thus  he  watched  over  me,  and  led 


USEFULNESS. 


81 


d 
d 


me  step  by  step,  till,  by  God's  grace,  I  was 
enabled  to  go  and  do  likewise  to  the  extent  of 
my  ability  and  opportunity. 

"I  thus  look  back  with  great  thankfolness  to 
the  time  when  I  was  privileged  to  be  with  him. 
I  thank  God  continually,  from  the  depth  of  my 
heart,  that  he  placed  providentially  so  eminent 
a  Christian  as  Captain  Hammond  before  me  as 
my  example,  at  a  time  when  the  Christian  char- 
|9icter  is  set  and  moulded  so  easily.  His  words 
*  were  like  fire  in  my  soul.'  I  feel  the  benefit 
of  them  now,  and  shall  do  so  till  I  meet  him  in 
glory.  They  stirred  me  up,  and  made  me  run 
in  the  divine  life.  Yet  he  apparently  knew  not 
their  secret  force.  And  how  do  we  account 
for  it?  It  was  simply  this:  he  was/wZ?  of  faith 
and  the  Holy  Ghost  who  spoke  by  him.  His 
words  were  with  power.  Having  purged  him- 
self with  the  blood  of  Jesus,  he  was  *a  vessel,' 
as  the  apostle  says,  *meet  for  the  Master's  use.' 

"In  my  intercourse  with  Christian  friends, 
I  never  met  with  any  one  whose  simple  words 
were  so  effective.  I  can  recollect  the  identical 
spot  where  we  happened  to  be  walking  some 
seven  years  ago,  when  he  gave  utterance  to 
expressions  in  reference   to  spiritual  truths 


HMnmond. 


6 


th 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 

which  are  embedded  in  my  heart  and  memory. 
The  remark  I  have  felt  of  most  benefit  to  me 
was  this:  ^ See  that  yomr  first  love  does  not  de- 
dineJ  When  disposed  to  slacken  my  pace  in 
the  divine  life,  often  has  this  rung  the  alarm 
-in  my  ears,  and  roused  me  to  wait  on  the  Lord, 
that  my  strength  might  be  renewed." 

This  was  not  a  single  instance  of  his  value 
as  a  Christian  friend.  The  close  of  the  letter, 
though  diverging  from  this  particular  point, 
bears  so  strong  a  testimony  to  Captain  Ham- 
mond's life  of  active  usefulness,  that  it  should 
not  be  omitted.  . 

**  The  Sunday-school,  however,  occupied  his 
thoughts  and  attention  very  much.  He  waa 
always  at  his  post  in  time  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  in  all  weathers,  though  his  quarters 
were  some  three  miles  distant.  He  was  an 
admirable  teacher,  and  took  much  pains  in 
getting  missionary  and  other  information  to 
instruct  the  children  in  his  addresses.  On  his 
leaving,  the  school  presented  him  with  a  book 
and  address.  His  visits  to  the  poor  were  con- 
stant and  daily ;  and  not  only  did  he  feed  them 
with  spiritual  food,  but  he  ministered  to  their 
temporal  wants  of  his  substance.     He  was 


\ 


vi 


c 
c 

I 


5 


USEFULNESS. 


83 


exceedingly  liberal.  Much  that  he  did  in  this 
way  was  of  course  unknown,  but  from  what 
was  known,  he  must  have  distributed  very 
largely  out  of  his  means.  After  he  left,  my 
mother,  on  visiting  sonae  poor  widows,  found 
tom  lamenting  the  loss  of  Captain  Hammond, 
and  learned  that  he -had  been  their  best  friend, 
and  had  supported  them.  He  was  a  decided 
Christian.  He  offered  his  Redeemei  no  half- 
hearted service.  His  whole  life  and  daily 
walk  showed  that  he  was  one  of  the  few  in  the 
present  low  estate  of  the  church  of  Christ  who 
presented  themselves  a  living  sacrifice  to  God, 
and  considered  this  a  reasonable  service.  Rom. 
12:1.  He  was  not  conformed  to  this  world. 
His  views  on  this  subject  were  very  clear  and 
strong.  It  was  not  with  him,  *How  little  of 
the  world  can  I  give  up  in  urd^r  to  save  my 
spiritual  life,  and  attain  heav»3a  at  last  T  but, 
*  What  shall  I  render  unto  '  ■  e  Lord  in  return 
for  his  love  V  " 

Captain  Hammond  was  sometimes  called  into 
service  as  a  public  speaker  and  a  presiding  offi- 
cer at  religious  anniversaries.  He  alludes  to 
one  of  these  occasions  in  a  note  from  Kingston, 
February  14,  1848 : 


u 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


"  We  get  plenty  of  excellent  tracts  and  books 
from  the  Religious  Tract  Society,  of  which 
there  is  a  depository  here.  The  branch  soci- 
ety of  Kingston  has,  however,  been  almost  dead 
for  the  last  fourteen  years.  They  have  this 
year  been  making  an  effort  to  revive  k.  A 
committee  has  been  formed,  and  a  public  meet- 
ing held  for  the  purpose  of  re-forming  it. 
What  do  you  think  of  my  having  to  second  a 
resolution,  and  make  a  speech  from  the  plat- 
form ?  The  speech  was  short,  and  the  speak- 
er's trepidation  very  painful.  We  cannot  tell, 
until  the  collections  have  been  made,  how  far 
this  effort  will  succeed ;  but  we  trust  something 
may  be  done — and  the  object  is  a  very  impor- 
tant one — for  this  society  is  the  only  channel 
through  which  sound  religious  publications  are 
brought  among  the  people  in  these  backwoods 
of  Canada." 

A  friend  referring  to  the  same  occasion  says, 
"Few  would  have  believed  how  recently  he 
had  become  in  any  sense  a  public  man.  His 
presiding  on  that  occasion  was  marked  by  a 
dignified  self-composure ;  and  when  he  opened 
the  business  of  the  evening,  his  language  was 
so  appropriate  and  so  fluent,  that  none  could 


mn. 


USEFULNESS. 


u 


have  imagined  their  chairman  to  have  been  an 
orator  of  a  week  old." 

Another  letter,  says  of  him,  "  Wherever  he 
appeared,  his  speeches  were  marked  for  manli- 
ness, jfliuency,  and  above  all,  spirituality  of  tone 
and  sentiment.  He  had  the  gift  of  speaking 
in  public  with  freedom  and  ease ;  from  which, 
and  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  many 
thought  that  his  talents  were  eminently  suited 
for  the  ministry  of  the  gospel." 


88 


OAPT.  M.  K.  HAMMOND. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CHOICE  OP  FRIENDS. 

The  sterling  character  of  Captain  Ham- 
mond's friendship  was  especially  marked.  He 
was  no  summer  friend.  Once  given,  his  love 
was  strong,  constant,  and  invariable.  His  na- 
ture was,  it  is  true,  especially  affectionate ;  but 
It  was  not  to  this  alone  that  we  may  attribute 
liat  unchanging,  ever-prosent  feeling  which  all 
his  letters  to  his  friends  exhibit.  It  wa? 
rather,  that  where  he  saw  the  image  of  his 
Master  reflected,  however  feebly,  there  he  gave 
his  whole  heart  at  once.  Hence  the  number 
of  his  friends ;  hence  the  many  expressions  of 
grief  that  followed  his  early  removal.  He 
would  often  dwell  on  this  peculiar  bond  of 
love  that  unites  together  the  children  of  the 
Lord,  and  contrast  it  with  the  hollow,  selfish 
friendship  of  tk^  world.  He  frequently  re- 
ferred to  the  effi?ct  of  this  union  in  Christ  on 
himself.  Once  he  said,  ** Before  I  knew  the 
truth,  I  used  positively  to  hate  — — .  I  do  n't 
think  I  used  to  hate  many  people,  but  I  confess 


' 


,1 


CHOICE  OF  FBIENDB. 


87 


I  really  hated  him;  I  used  to  think  bim  such  a 
regular  whining  Methodist."  And  yet  this  very 
dislike  subsequently  gave  way  to  a  close  friend- 
ship, founded  upon  mutual  love  to  the  Saviour. 
What  his  friends  thought  of  him.  a  few  letters 
will  show.     One  says, 

"  His  friendship  I  count  one  of  the  most  pre- 
cious blessings  I  have  ever  received  from  the 
hands  of  my  gracious  God  and  Father.  He 
seemed  sent,  as  I  loved  to  think,  in  answer  to 
the  prayer  of  one\just  then  led,  with  tottering 
steps,  to  try  the  pathwe  of  light  and  peace. 
'  "  I  first  met  him  on  the  13th  of  October,  1846, 
soon  after  my  arrival  at  Montreal  from  more 
than  a  year's  sick  leave.  He  was  the  friend  I 
needed,  the  companion  precisely  suited  to  my 
wants  and  the  yearnings  of  my  heart.  And 
during  that  first  year  of  uninterrupted  and 
close  intercourse,  I  learned  to  admire,  to  esteem^ 
and  love  him  as  I  never  thought  I  could  have 
loved  man.  Meekness  and  wisdom  seemed 
traced  in  every  line  of  his  countenance.  Truly 
did  he  walk  in  the  light,  and  brightly  did  he 
reflect  the  light,  gladdening  and  warming  the 
hearts  of  some,  and  reproving  sin  in  the  coi»- 
•ciences  of  others.    There  seemed  around  him 


CAPT.  M.  If .  HAMMOND. 

an  atmosphere  of  light  and  lore,  and  calm  joy 
in  believing.  He  did  not  hide  his  light.  Ii« 
his  religion  was  true  vitality ;  it  was  essentially 
active  and  diffusive.  The  language  of  his 
heart  seemed  ever  to  be,  *  What  shall  I  render 
to  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  towards  me?' 
Sweetly,  irresistibly,  and  constantly  the  love 
of  Christ  constrained  him.  He  was  to  be  seen 
not  only  at  the  sick-bed  of  the  friend  and  the 
officer,  but  beside  that  of  the  soldier  in  the 
hospital  and  the  poor  stranger.  Misery,  sor- 
row, and  need  of  every  kind  had  for  him 
attraction.  Others  saw  his  works  and  blessed, 
him,  and  gave  glory  to  God ;  while  he,  in  the 
lowliness  and  loveliness  of  unfeigned  humility, 
was  ever  ready  to  mourn  over  felt,  confessed 
unprofitableness.  He  did  much,  he  loved  much ; 
but  the  Holy  Spirit  had  opened  to  his  heart 
such  views  of  the  love  of  God  in  Christ,  that 
every  return  made  seemed  to  him  worse  than 
nothing.  And  so,  while  more  and  more  drawn 
by  gratitude  and  love  to  work  for  God,  and  to 
aim  at  entire  conformity  to  his  will  in  holiness 
of  life,  he  brought  no  plea  to  the  bar  of  God's 
justice  but  the  atonement  and  the  spotless  right- 
eousness of  Christ.     In  these  he  rested; "in 


OHOIOB  OF  FBIENDB. 


8d 


r 


these  he  'triumphed.  Oh  how  he  delighted  to 
dwell  upon  the  ever-new  theme — the  love  of 
Christ,  and  the  fulness  that  is  in  him.  A  re- 
mark made  by  a  dear  friend  at  Halifax,  in 
reference  to  him,  has  often  been  felt  by  me  in 
its  realization:  *  With  grace  in  that  heart,  what 
a  lovely  Christian  he  would  be.'  Yes ;  a  noble 
form,  a  lovely  natural  character,  /talking  in 
the  light  of  God's  reconciled  countenance." 
^  The  above  and  many  similar  letters  show 
how  his  friends  regarded  him.  Upon  what 
grounds  he  himself  sought  and  found  intimate 
ties,  the  next  letter  to  his  brother  will  show : 

"  My  dear  H ^It  is  a  good  thing  to 

find  out  and  get  ^.cquainted  with  religious  peo- 
ple wherever  one  goes.  I  hope  I  shall  never 
forget  the  advice  of  a  good  man,  a  clergyman 
in  this  country,  who  died  this  summer  of  emi- 
grant fever.  When  I  was  leaving  Montreal, 
*  Be  sure,'  he  said,  *  you  lose  no  time  in  finding 
out  the  good  people  wherever  you  go.'  I  hope 
I  shall  always  act  upon  this  advice,  as  I  am 
convinced  that,  next  to  the  Bible  and  the  in- 
structions from  the  pulpit,  nothing  is  so  good 
for  one  as  the  society  of  real  Christians.  God 
has  graciously  made  this  provision  for  our 


V 


to 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


wants,  and  so  ordered  it  that  we  matually  re- 
ceive and  communicate  good  to  one  ?%nother. 
And  as  we  are  commanded  to  separale  from 
the  society  of  an  ungodly  world,  we  aro  thus 
graciousl)  permitted  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of 
society  and  companionship  with  those  who  love 
the  Lord.  Nothing  struck  me  more  forcibly 
when  my  own  mind  was  directed  to  seek  the 
one  thing  needful,  than  the  difference  between 
the  friendship  of  the  world  and  that  friendship 
founded  on  Christian  principles^  proceeding 
from  our  common  union  in  the  faith  of  Jesus. 
What  has  become  of  all  those  who  professed 
friendship  in  the  days  of  worldly  gayety  and 
dissipation?  Their  friendship  is  like  the 
wind,  iiollow,  empty,  and  passing  away ;  while 
that  of  ChriBtians  never  fails,  and  neither  time 
nor  distance  ever  obliterates  it.  Svery  day 
shows  me  the  necessity  of  making  the  line  of 
separation  between  the  world  and  the  disciple 
of  Jesus  more  clear  and  decided.  And  while 
in  the  estimation  of  many  one  may  be  set  down 
as  morose  and  unsociable  and  over-precise,  I 
am  (Satisfied  that  every  step  towards  worldly 
compliance  is  a  step  in  the  wrong  direction, 
and  a  step  toward^  the  loss  of  that  peace  which 


CHOICE  OP  PBIBNDS. 


91 


is  the  result  of  keeping  the  conscience  void  of 
offence,  and  which  is  the  only  thing  reall/ 
worth  possessing.  The  opinion  of  the  world 
is  but  a  light  matter,  and  the  friendship  of  the 
world  is  enmity  with  God.  All  that  is  in  the 
world  is  not  of  the  Father,  but  is  of  the  world. 
We  cannot  do  both,  serw  <^lod  and  the  world 
together;  Christ  has  decln  '  it  to  be  an  im* 
.possibility.  If  you  should  boek  as  your  friends 
and  companions  those  who  are  religious,  doubt- 
less you  will  find  some,  though  their  number 
may  be  few,  and  they  will  be  despised  by  the 
thoughtless  around  them;  but  if  you  make 
friends  of  such,  you  will  find  that  their  friend- 
ship is  genuine  and  lasting. 

"  What  I  w.ant  myself,  and  what  we  all  want, 
is  more  of  the  love  of  Christ  in  the  heart. 
This  would  make  us  out  of  love  with  the  world, 
and  we  should  then  esteem  all  else  but  that 
which  is  connected  with  God  and  eternal  things 
as  beneath  our  proper  regard.  I  am  ashamed 
at  feeling  so  little  desire  to  live  for  God* 
When  I  ask  myself.  What  am  I  doing,  or  trying 
to  do,  for  him?  the  answer  is,  *  Nothing.'  In- 
stead of  earnestly  laboring  for  others,  I  am 
content  to  sit  down  selfish  and  unconcerned, 


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OAPT.  M.  H.  HAMMOND. 


80  as  I  can  only  feed  mj  own  sonl.  But  this 
is  not  the  spirit  of  Him  who  pleased  not  him- 
self, and  whose  meat  and  drink  it  was  to  do 
the  will  of  his  Father. 

"  I  hope  you  are  going  on,  dear  H ,  in 

the  right  way.  *  Follow  on  to  know  the  Lord/ 
and  in  '  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God  and  of 
Jestis  Christ  our  Lord.'  For  my  own  part,  I 
have  often  to  bewail,  with  shame  and  sorrow, 
that  I  have  backslidden  rather  than  advanced, 
and  often  does  my  ungrateful  heart  seem  alto- 
gether to  have  left  its  first  love.  God  will 
have  us  to  know  that  our  spiritual  life  is  a 
constant  uninterrupted  conflict  against  the 
powers  of  darkness  and  the  corruptions  of  our 
naturally  depraved  hearts.  He  will  have  us 
to  learn  by  sad  experience,  that  without  Christ 
we  can  do  nothing,  that  our  only  strength  lies 
m  his  grace,  and  that  we  can  only  be  preserved 
from  falling  by  constant  watching,  waiting, 
praying,  and  looking  at  him.  The  eye  of  faith 
once  taken  away  from  Christ,  and  like  Peter, 
we  shall  sink  in  the  waves  of  temptation.  Oh, 
may  we  ever  look  to  him.  *  Abide  in  me,'  says 
Jesus,  '  and  I  in  you ;  so  shall  ye  have  much 
fruit.'    Are  we  abiding  in  Jesus?  and  what 


1 1 


OHOIOB  OF  FRIENDS. 

fruit  are  we  bearing  ?  And  no^,  dear  H— , 
good-by.  What  subject  should  we  delight  to 
write  about  and  to  speak  upon  so  much  as  the 
things  that  belong  to  our  eternal  peace  ?  God 
bless  you,  dear  H .  Pray  for  your  affec- 
tionate brother,  «  m;,  m.  H." 

The  motives  from  whence  his  friendship 

sprung  extended  beyond  persons-^to  pla,ces. 

I  At  Halifax  his  new  life  began,  and  he  always 

M  spoke  of  that  town  with  the  warmest  affectibn. 

Writing  two  years  aftarwards,  in  September, 

1848,  to  one  of  his  friends  there,  he  says: 

"  It  is  long  since  I,  or  any  of  us,  have  heard 
from  Halifax.  We  seem  almost  to  have  lost 
sight  of  that  ever-memorable  place.  But  I 
hope  I  shall  never,  so  long  as  I  have  the  breath 
of  life,  forget  to  plead  for  that  place  where,  as 
I  humbly  trust,  *I  was  born ;'  and  for  those  kind 
brethren  and  sisters  to  whose  love  and  counsel 
and  spiritual  existence  I  owe  so  much,  as  tiie 
instruments,  in  the  hand  of  God,  by  whom  I 
believed.  I  love  to  look  back  on  those  blessed 
days  of  peace  and  great  joy,  of  bright  hope 
and  heavenly  desires,  which  a  God  of  love  gave 
me  to  taste  on  first  setting  out  on  the  journey 
homewards.     Alas,  when  I  look  within,  what 


vw 


OAFT.IC.  M.  HAMMOND. 


cause  is  there  for  kumiliation,  sorrow,  and  self- 
abasement  1  .  .  .  .  Pardon  me  for  writing  thns 
about  myself;  Halifax  so  brings  back  to  me 
the  remembrance  of  the  past,  that  I  conld  not 
forbear.  And  Oh,  may  it  be  said  of  many 
souls,  as  I  humbly  trust  and  earnestly  pray 
that  it  may  be  said  of  me  and  many  others,  in 
that  day  when  the  Lord  Jesus  makes  up  his 
jewels,  *Lo,  this  and  that  man  was  born  there.'" 
One  of  his  Canada  friends  testifies, 
"  When  Captain  Hammond  was  at  Kingston, 
I  think  he  came  out  most  in  striving  to  do  what 
he  could  for  the  poor  of  the  town.  I  remem- 
ber hearing  much  of  his  work  from  the  mouths 
of  many  of  those  who  were  afflicted,  and  on 
whom  he  spent  so  much  of  his  time.  I  have 
always  heard  the  most  delightful  expressions 
of  their  love  for  him.  Many  interesting  cases 
he  left  for  us  to  look  after.  One  in  particular 
I  must  give  you  before  I  conclude.  A  sweet 
little  girl  named  Angelina,  one  of  his  class  in 
the  Sunday-school,  was  taken  ill,  and  went  into 
a  slow  consumption.  Maxy  attended  this  sweet 
little  /patient  almost  daily,  striving  to  lead  the 
mind  of  the  little  sufferer  to  that  Saviour  who 
was  waiting  to  hear  her  first  prayer  for  pardon 

I! 


CHOICB  OF  FBIEVPB. 


96 


and  reconciliation  through  his  blood.  By  little 
and  little  the  light  dawned  in  upon  her  Soul ; 
and  through  the  instrumentality  of  our  beloved 
Maxy,  with  the  assistance  of  the  blessed  Spirit, 
that  little  one  was  brought  into  the  fold  of 
Christ.  But  this  was  not  all;  Angelina's 
father,  during  her  illness,  was  /tttacked  with 
dropsy,  and  endured  the  most  intense  suffering. 
He  could  not  but  hear  the  admonitions  and 
Messages  of  love  which  Maxy  Hammond  almost 
flaily  gave  to  his  little  daughter,  and  from  his 
own  lips  he  told  me  that  those  words  addressed 
to  his  dying  daughter  were  the  means  used  to 
lead  him  to  the  same  blessed  Saviour.  He  died 
full  of  faith;  and  thus  two  of  one  family, 
through  Maxy's  instrumentality,  are  now  join- 
ing him  in  ascribing  praise  and  glory  to  Him 
who  had  loved  them,  saved  them,  and  now 
glorified  them." 

"  He  also,"  writes  Dr.  M ,  "  took  a  very 

warm  interest  in  a  poor  lad  of  the  name  of 
Fitzgibbon,  and  was  most  attentive  to  him 
when  on  his  death-bed.  He  was,  I  believe,  a 
pupil  in  the  Sunday-school;  and  his  religious 
impressions,  I  think  it  probable,  were  first  re- 
ceived from  our  dear  friend  Captain  Hammond. 


n 


0AP7.  U.  U   HAKXOMD. 


I  have  heard  a  pious  carpenter  speak  with 
much  affection  of  his  hmnilitjr  in  stopping  to 
speak  to  him  when  walking  with  other  officers." 
Like  Him  who  was  **  touched  with  a  feeling 
of  our  infirmities/'  and  to  whose  image  Cap- 
tain Hammond  strove  to  be  conformed,  he  too 
shared  the  cares  and  sorrows  of  his  brethren  in 
Christ.  Sympathy  was  strongly  implanted  in 
his  nature.  Even  in  the  little-concerns  of  daily 
life  he  entered  readily  and  heartily  into  the 
hopes,  pleasures,  and  wishes  of  others,  deeming 
no  matter  too  little  for  an  exercise  of  his  affec- 
tion. Guided  by  such  a  motive  in  minor 
things,  when  real  sorrow  came  his  heart  was 
touched  with  the  keenest  and  most  genuine 
feeling ;  and  perhaps  it  would  not  be  easy  to 
find  a  more  touching  expression  of  genuine 
sympathy,  than  that  which  is  breathed  through 
some  of  his  letters  to  friends  iit  affliction.  Al- 
ways living  for  others,  never  had  friendship 
a  nobler  sanctuary  upon  earth,  nor  misery  a 
stronger  tower  of  refuge. 


1/ 


BETUBN  TO  ENGLAND. 


9% 


» 


CHAPTER  X. 


RETURN  TO  ENGLAND. 


A  CHANGE  hsLring  occurred  in  the  battalion 
arrangements^  Capt.  Hammond  was  unexpect- 
edly posted  to  the  command  of  the  d^pot  at  the 
jjile  of  Wight;  he  very  soon  after  quitted 
America  for  the  last  time,  and  in  June,  1849, 
we  find  him  stationed  at  Parkhiirst,  in  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  in  charge  of  the  d^pot. 

Soon  after  his  arrival,  his  youngest  brother, 
in  whom  he  had  taken  so  lively  an  interest,  as 
we  have  already  gathered  from  his  letters,  and 
who  first  received  him  when  he  returned  home 
in  1847,  went  down  to  see  him  on  his  arrival, 
and  thus  describes  his  first  interview : 

**  The  heavenliness  of  his  whole  deportment 
struck  me  much;  we  read  and  prayed  together, 
and  all  our  conversation  was  about  the  inheri- 
tance and  the  service  I  was  just  then  beginning 
to  feel  after,  and  which  he  had  found  for  four 
or  five  years.  Mrs.  H-- —  gave  me  the  *  Sin- 
ners' Friend,4  and  N.  H *  Come  to  Jesus/ 


Hammand. 


I 


M 


OAPT.  Mc  M.  HAMMOND. 


and  we  used  to  read  the  latter  together  on  the 
grass-banks  of  Carisbrooke  castle,  and  in  our 
expeditions  to  the  Needles,  and  in  his  room  in 
barracks." 
To  this  brother,  Capt.  Hammond  writes :     ' 

■  "  Parkhurst,  June  8, 1849. 

"  I  enjoyed  your  short  visit.  ....  What 
reason  have  you  and  I  to  be  filled  with  grati- 
tude and  adoring  wonder  at  the  grace  wbich 
has  enabled  us,  in  Bome  degree,  to  taste  that 
the  Lord  is  gracious,  and  to  feel,  however 
slightly,  that  Jesus  is  precious.  He  is  the  chief 
among  ten  thousand,  and  altogether  lovely. 
Such  is  he  in  the  eyes  of  his  redeemed  church, 
and  such  should  he  be  in  ours.  Yet,  alas,  I 
feel  at  times  as  if  I  had  no  love*;  as  if  my  re- 
ligion were  mere  hypocrisy,  the  form  Of  godli- 
ness, but  destitute  of  its  vital  power.  Indeed^ 
we  ought  to  be  ashamed  that  we  love  him  so 
little;  that  we  are  doing  so  little  for  him.  I 
find  this  especially  the  case  when  thrown  among 
worldly  men.  Then  it  is  not  an  easy  thing  to 
walk  as  a  Christian,  desiring  to  be  known  in 
nof  other  character  than  as  a  disciple  of  Jesus ; 
content  to  wear  the  reproach  of  the  cross;  to 
be  thought  a  weak-spirited  felloe  for  his  sake; 


BBTUBN  TO  SNGLAND. 


99 


confessing  him  before  men,  and  setting  np  our 
banner  in  his  name;  studying  to  adorn  his  gos- 
pel in  all  things  with  'meekness  of  wisdom/ 
I  do  n't  know  when  I  have  felt  my  own  weak- 
ness and  utter  helplessness  more  than  since  I 
have  been  here.  How  blessed  a  thing  it  is  for 
us  that  we  are  not  kept  by  ourselves,  but  by 
the  Keeper  of  Israel — ^by  Him  who  prayed, 
*Holy  Father,  keep  through  thine  own  name 
,t^ose  whom  thou  hast  given  me ;'  and  again,  'I 
pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them  out  of 
the  world,  but  that  thou  shouldest  keep  them 
from  the  evil.'  Here  then  is  our  security — the 
intercession  of  Jesus',  as  engaged  in  our  behalf. 
Covenant  love  is  pledged  for  our  encourage- 
ment ;  all  the  promises  are  for  us  weak  sinners, 
all  secured  to  us  in  Jesus ;  for  'all  the  promises 
of  God'  are  *yea  and  amen'  in  Christ  Jesus.  . . 
Grace  be  with  you.  Let  our  prayer  for  each 
other  be  2  Thess.  1 :  11, 12. 

"  Ever  your  affectionate, 

«  M.  M.  HAMMOND." 

Probably  one  especial  cause  of  the-serenity 
and  inward  peace,  as  well  as  the  consistent 
holiness  of  outward  life  that  marked  Captain 
Hammond's  character,  was  his  entire  depend- 


100 


CAPT.  M.  IC.  HAMHOND. 


/■ 


ence  on  the  all-sufficiency  of  Obrist,  the  habit 
of  looking  out  of  himself  unto  Ohrist  for  every 
thing ;  conscious  of  the  weakness  of  the  natural 
man,  yet  rejoicing  in  the  knowledge  that  the 
Lord's  "strength  i£   made  perfect  in  weak- 


V 


ness. 

Among  the  letters  which  we  have  brought 
together  in  this  volume,  perhaps  we  shall  find 
none  which  more  forcibly  illustrates  the  com- 
plet^^ss  of  the  change  which  the  writer  had 
undergone,  none  certainly  which  has  a  better 
claim  to  the  consideration  of  the  reader,  than  _ 
that  which  follows.  It  was  written  in  the 
course  of  some  correspondence  which  had  taken 
place  on  the  lawfulness  of  many  worldly  amuse- 
ments. Let  us  compare  it  with  those  letters 
introduced  in  our  earlier'  pages ;  that,  for  ex-  ' 
ample,  written  from  Dover  in  1842.  Do  we 
not  perceive  in  that  comparison  something 
more  than  a  natural  change  from  the  tone  of 
boyish  levity  to  the  grave  thoughtfulness  of 
manhood?  Can  we  fail  to  see  in  the  deep  con- 
viction which  calmly  but  decidedly  condemns 
all  that "  is  not  of  the  Father,  but  of  the  world  f 
in  the  ^njrisdom  which,  uttering  her  warning  voice, 
would  cry  imploringly,  "  How  long,  ye  simple 


RETURN  TO  EKGLAND. 


101 


ones?''  in  the  earnest  concern  of  one  who,  ez« 
periencing  in  tho  better  part  which  he  had  cho- 
sen, that  *'  godliness  is  profitable  "  in  "  the  life 
which  now  is/'  would  desire  that  others  might 
share  it ;  can  we  fail  to  perceiye  in  all  this  the 
eflfect  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  work  ?  In  those  first 
letters  we  have  the  natural  man  speaking ;  in 
this,  the  renewed  spirit. 

"October  18, 1849. 

"  My  dear ^Very  many  {banks  for 


our  letter,  and  for  the  book  which  accompa- 
nied it.  A  more  pernicious  production  I  never 
met  with ;  but  happily,  it  can  be  so  easily  re- 
futed in  all  its  pretended  arguments,  that  it  is 
likely  to  do  less  harm  to  the  earnest  Christian 
than  it  might  otherwise  do.  So  far  from  con- 
vincing the  Bible-taught  Christian  that  it  is 
wrong  to  'come  out  and  be  separate'  from  the 
world,  it  would  more  than  eyer  confirm  him  in 
the  fundamental  principle ;  and  it  is  only  a  fur- 
ther proof  that  Hhe  natural  man  receiveth  not 
the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  Ood,  neither  can  he 
know  them,  because  they  are  spiritually  dis- 
cerned.' 

''  What  a  mistaken  notion  of  what  is  termed 
cheerfulness,  to  suppose  that  it  is  to  be  found 


102 


CAPT.H.H.  HAMMOND. 


in  those  broken  cisterns  which  the  men  of  this 
world  would  in  vain  apply  to,  in  order  to  drown 
the  voice  of  conscience,  'kill  time/  and  shut  out 
the  thought  of  God  and  eternity  from  the  mind. 
The  soul  that  has  been  plucked  as  a  brand  froiQ 
the  burning  dreads  the  taint  of  those  pleasures 
from  which  it  has  been  snatched  by  sovereign 
grace.  Having  travelled  with  the  multitude 
along  the  broad  road  to  destruction,  now  that 
his  eyes  have  been  opened  to  see  his  own  im- 
minent danger,  and  the  danger  of  his  fellow- 
travellers,  and  having  been  warned  by  the 
Angel  of  the  covenant  not  to  look  behind,  the 
awakened  and  sin-convinced  penitent  trembles 
with  fear  of  returning  to  the  devoted  city,  and 
flies  for  his  life,  believing  the  word  of  the  Most 
High,  that  he  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon. 
*No  man  having  put  his  hand  to  the  plough, 
and  looking  back,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.'  What  was  it  that  rendered  the  good 
seed  unfruitful,  and  even  choked  it  in  or!k  class 
of  hearers?  the  pleasures  of  this  life.  Luke 
8 :  14.  Truly  indeed  may  these  be  called 
thorns.  The  child  of  God  will  find  them  sharp 
and  piercing,  wounding  the  conscience,  dim- 
ming the  hope,  and  dragging  down  the  soul  to 


RETURN  TO  ENQLAND. 


108 


earth,  deadening  the  spiritual  aflfections,  and 
estranging  him  from  his  God.  Is  not  Christ 
enough  ?  Is  he  not  infinitely  precious  and  all- 
sufficient?  and  ought  we  not  to  be  cheerful  in 
him ?  He  is  our  all  in  all ;  'as  he  is,  so  are  we 
in  this  world.'  What  can  give  such  solid  peace, 
such  permanent  happiness,  as  communion  with 
him,  our  unseen  Friend?  And  shall  we  yet 
hanker  after  communion  with  those  who  know 
.and  love  him  not,  and  have  their  portion  in 
iihis  life  ?  If  we  seek  happiness  <mt  of  him^ 
surely  we  shall  have  our  reward. 

'^  Referring  again  to  the  book,  how  weak  and 
puerile  are  the  arguments  brought  forward: 
Dancing  sanctioned  because  David  danced  and 
sang  praises  before  the  Lord.  Is  such  the  prac- 
tice of  our  Christian  ballrooms?  And  again: 
The  Almighty  Father  meeting  his  repentant 
son  with  music  and  dancing.  Are  balls  then 
ordained  of  God  as  the  expression  of  our  joy 
over  repenting  sinners?  And  because  the  fa- 
ther of  the  prodigal  is  represented  as  meeting 
his  son  in  the  way  described,  is  this  to  teach  us 
that  God  approves  of  dancing  all  night,  as  in 
our  day?  or  does  it  simply  mean  that,  as  the 
earthly  father  rejoiced  over  his  lost,  erring 


104 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


child,  SO  our  heavenly  Father  rejoices  over  the 
poor  repentant  sinner,  and  freely  forgives  him  ? 
Doubtless  there  is  joy  in  such  a  case— joy  in 
heaven,  rejoicing  and  hymns  of  praise  among 
the  angels  there ;  but  what  has  this  to  do  with 
the  unholy  mirth  of  a  London  ballroom,  where 
*the  lust  of  the  flesh  and  the  lust  of  the  eye  and 
the  pride  of  life'  there  exhibited  do  but  remind 
us  that  such  assemblies  are  *not  of  the  Father, 
but  of  the  world  ?'  For  my  own  part,  I  have 
tried  both ;  and  now  every  day's  experience  tells 
me,  that  both  for  our  own  peace  and  happiness, 
and  for  the  real  good  of  others,  the^  Christian's 
duty  is  clear,  *to  come  out  and  be  separate' 
from  the  vain  pursuits,  unsanctified  pleasures, 
and  sinful  practices  of  the  world.  There  are 
now,  as  there  ever  were,  two  classes,  and  two 
only-r-the  ,children  of  the  world,  and  the  chil- 
dren of  God ;  the  converted,  and  the  uncon- 
verted; those  treading  the  broad  way,  and 
those  walking  along  the  narrow.  These  oppo- 
site principles  cannot  amalgamate.  The  child 
of  God^nust  not  mingle  with  the  children  of 
the  wicked  one,  just  as  the  Jews  were  forbid- 
den to  form  alliances  with  the  heathen,  kst  they 
should  ham  their  practices.    See  how  they  fell 


\i 


RETURN  TO  ENGLAND. 


105 


\* 


through  these  very  things;  and  *  these  things 
were  written  for  our  admonition,  upon  whom 
the  ends  of  the  world  have  come.' 

"  Once  more,  how  awful  is  the  woe  denounced 
against  those  who  offend,  namely,  cause  to  stum- 
ble, one  of  Christ's  *  little  ones.'  May  we  not 
fear  that,  in  conforming  to  the  usages  and  prac- 
tices of  the  world,  we  shall  be  giving  counte- 
nance to  many  who  are  lovers  of  pleasure  more 
ithan  lovers  of  God,  and  thus  cast  a  stumbling- 
*  olock  before  their  feet,  over  which  they  might 
ffjiH  eterrudly  ?  On  the  other  hand,  if  we  show 
plainly  that  we  are  strangers  and  pilgrims  here, 
that  we  are  crucified  to  the  world,  and  the 
world  crucified  to  us,. that  is,  held  up  to  our 
view  as  an  object  loathsome  and  disgusting, 
from  which  we  would  turn  away;  that  this  is 
not  our  rest;  that  we  are  seeking  a  better 
country,  that  is,  a  heavenly,  and  higher  hopes 
and  purer  pleasures  than  this  world  can  boast 
M\  that  we  derive  our  joys  and  our  peace  from 
a  totally  different  source;  then  I  think  we 
should  be  doing  more  towards  awakening  a 
spirit  of  inquiry  and  deeper  concern  for  the 
welfare  of  the  soul  in  those  around  us,  than  in 
quietly  going  down  the  stream  vfith  them,  with 


106 


GAPT.  H.  M.  HAMMOND. 


little  observable  diflference  between  our  princi- 
ples, pleasures,  and  .pursuits,  and  theirs.  Let 
us  remember  our  high  and  holy  calling ;  called 
out  from  the  world,  witnesses  for  Christ  and 
AGAINST  sin  and  ungodliness,  in  whatever  form 
it  may  present  itself.  Citizens  of  the  new  Jeru- 
salem, having  our  conversation  in  heaven,  par- 
takers  of  the  divine  nature,  temples  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  may  our  constant  and  fervent  prayer  be 
that  of  Paul  for  the  Philippia»s,  Phil.  1 : 9-11, 
that  we  may  *  try '  things  *  that  differ.'  Lord,  in- 
crease our  faith. 

"  Your  affectionate, 

«M.  M.  H." 


■;j^-*VJ«*iiit1M>«rtfc«a— J>*  I  iif«  II-*- 


MABBIAQB. 


107 


\ 


CHAPTER  XI. 

MARRIAGE. 

It  was  natural  to  a  mind  daily  increasing 
in  spiritual  growth^  daily  sitting  looser  to  the 
things  of  the  world,  that  the  ordinary  habits  of 
barrack  life,  and  the  tone  and  conversation  of 
a  mess-room  should  become  less  and  less  con- 
genial, it  oould  not  well  be  otherwise ;  and 
at  Parkhurst,  where  the  depots  of  seyeral  regi- 
ments were  united,  and  the  society  of  the  mess- 
room  was  hot  even  that  of  his  own  regiment, 
Maxy  Hammond  began  to  feel  strongly  the 
chilling  influences  around  him,  and  to  yearn 
for  a  home  of  his  own.  He  remembered  with 
a  grateful  heart,  how  in  the  home  of  a  brother 
officer  he  had  first  drunk  in  those  truths  which 
had  been  the  polestar  of  his  after-life ;  and  he 
longed  to  have  an  opportanity  of  offering  to 
others  a  welcome  which  had  conferred  so 
great  a  blessing  on  himself.  It  was  his  ardent 
desire  to  be  the  head  of  a  Christian  household. 
Captain  Hammond  looked  forward  to  marriage 
as  the  means  of  realizing  this  happiness.    He 


las 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


had  a  very  high  view  of  its  blessedness,  as  illus* 
tratiug  the  union  between  Christ  and  his 
church.  In  a  note  to  his  brother  he  says,  **J 
trust,  if  it  be  the  Lord's  will,  there  will  be  a 
way  opened  up  in  his  providence  towards  the 
attainment  of  my  wishes.  But  I  desire  to  re- 
member that  the  time  is  short,  and  that  we  must 
learn  to  sit  loosely  to  earthly  hopes  and  pros- 
pects, though  it  is  lawful  to  desire  a  Christian 
companion,  coupling  the  desire  with,  *if  the 
Lord  will.'  Oh  for  a  more  realizing  sense  of 
the  presence  and  all-sufficiency  of  Jesus ;  we 
should  then  look  less  to  the  creature,  and  feel 
that  he  is  enough."  At  an  earlier  time,  speak- 
ing of  another's  marriage,  he  said,  **The  great 
thing  is  'character ;'  such  a  character,  I  mean, 
as  is  described  in  the  last  chapter  of  Proverbs." 
Accordingly,  early  in  June,  1850,  he  writes*  to 
announce  to  his  numerous  friends  the  happy 
change  which  awaited  him. 

"June  12, 1860. 

"My  dear  Mrs.  H = 1  am  resolved  not 

to  let  another  day  pass  without  announcing  to 
you  an  event  of  great  importance  as  regards 
myself — ^that  I  am  going  to  be  married,  if  the 
Lord  will. ...  I  feel  sure  that  you  and  your 


HARBIAOE. 


109 


/dear  hasband  will  unite  with  us  in  the  earnest 
prayer,  that  our  union  may  be  in  the  Lord; 
that  it  may  be  our  first  and  great  desire  that 
the  name  of  Jesus  may  be  glorified  in  it.' 
In  another  letter,  dated 

"Pabkhurst,  June  16,  i860. 
"I  desire  to  recognize  the  hand  of  my  gra- 
cious and  Moving  Father,  in  this  great  instance 
of  his  goodness,  for  I  cannot  doubt  that  the 
,  gift  is  from  him.    I  feel  that  his  blessing  will 
'  rest  upon"  our  union.    What  a  mercy  to  have 
been  permitted  to  secure  the  affections  of  one 
who  will  lead  me  on,  and  help  me  forward  in 
the  journey  homewards." 

In  August,  1850,  his  marriage  with  Rosa 
Anne,  second  daughter  of  Mr.  Pennington,  was 
solemnized ;  and  the  happy  couple  started  for 
the  Cumberland  lakes.  There  among  the  sweet 
ferns  and  craggy  rocks  of  Borradaile,  with  a 
thankful  heart  he  considered  whose  hand  it  was 
that  fashioned  the  soft  slopes  of  Skiddaw,  and 
cleft  the  slaty  precipices  of  Honiston.  He  de- 
lighted to  remember  that  '^  the  mountains  shall 
depart,  and  the  hills  be  removed ;  but  my  kind- 
ness shall  not  depart  from  thee,  neither  shall 
the  covenant  of  my  peace  be  removed,  saith 


110 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


the  Lord  that  hath  mercy  on  thee.''  After  this 
tour  he  returned  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  took 
a  house  with  his  wife  at  Newport ;  very  near 
to  which  town  the  barracks  of  Parkhurst  are 
situated. 

Here  he  soon  resumed  his  active  habits.  He 
took  the  entire  charge  of  the  d^pot  schools,  in 
the  week  as  well  as  on  Sundays.  He  also  es- 
tablished a  Sunday-school  there,  and  conducted 
a'  service  at  the  hospital  on  Sunday  afternoons. 
Here  he  was^^  permitted  to  see  one  blessed  in- 
stance of  a  heart  given  to  God,  apparently 
through  his  instrumentality.  A  little  girl,  the 
daughter  of  a  sergeant  in  the  Rifles,  had  been' 
a  troublesome  and  unruly  child.  She  had  not 
long  attended  the  school  when  she  became  very 
attentive,  and  evidently  interiested ;  and  it  was 
perceptible  that  the  truth  was  reaching  her. 
Her  conduct  at  home  soon  changed  entirely,  and 
she  became  a  comfort  and  help  to  her  parents. 
When  the  regiment  was  removed  to  Chatham, 
the  child  was  attacked  with  scarlet-fever,  and 
her  illness  increasing,  she  was  visited  by  the 
clergyman.  He  found  her  on  her  death-bed. 
The  only  words  she  had  strength  to  utter  were, 
"My  precious  Saviour."  The  following  day  she 


XABBIAOE. 


in 


had  joined  the  ransomed  host  above.  Captain 
Hammond  was  a  very  diUgent  district  visitor 
among  the  poor  during  the  time  he  remained 
at  Newport.  Here  he  also  formed  a  friendship 
with  a  family,  which  was  among  his  strongest 
and  most  enduring. 

Captain  Hammond's  altered  position  in  life, 
as  a  married  man,  with  the  increased  expense 
of  an  establishment,  induced  him  at  this  time 
.  to  consider  a  more  systematic  course  in  dis- 
\  tributing  his  general  charities.  Hitherto,  hav- 
ing had  none  but  himself  to  provide  for,  they 
had  been  large.  But  he  was  now  obliged  to 
reduce  them;  and  knowing  that  God  accepts 
according  to  the  "  willing  mind,"  he  set  a  mini- 
mum to  his  expenditure  in  alms  at  one-tenth  of 
his  income.  Still  he  did  not  adhere  to  this 
sum;  but  rejoiced  in  giving  up  to  his  means, 
and  sometimes  beyond,  when  objects  of  interest 
were  brought  before  him.  Some  texts  which 
he  wrote  on  this  subject  in  a  manuscript  book, 
are  characteristic  of  his  feeling  on  this  head : 

"Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  how  he  said.  It  is  more  blessed  to  give 
than  to  receive."    Acts  20:35. 
"  Ye  know  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 


lit 


OAjfTM^mi.  nAwmonp, 


that  though  he  was  neb,  jet  foF  jour  nices  Ito 
b^jsame  poor,  that  je  tlm>Qghf  his  povertj  might 
1/         berich.^    2  0or,  8:9* 

**lor  eren  Ghrist  pleased  not  himself."  Pom. 

He  had  diosen  a  text^  on  the  oecasion  of  hia 
marriage,' looking  forward  to  a  wandering  life. 
He  had  it  engraved  on  Us  seal,  and  often  used 
to  ialhide  to  it  when  people  xsoaidoled  with  him 
on  beings  sent  to  disagreeable  quarters.  It  was 
Psalm  47 :4:  '^ He  shall  choose  our  inJtoritaAoe 
for  us." 

At  this  time  he  expected  to  be  removed  to 
Chatham.  "There  is  no  doubt,  I  fear,  of  Otatt- 
ham  being  our  final  destination ;  a  vile  place 
in  itself ;  tpl j  a  place  where  Satan's  seat  is. 
But  what  a  comfort  to  knoW  i&at  our  €bd  shs^l 
choose  our  inheritance  for  usy  which  settles  and ' 
quiets  the  mind.  It  is  enough  to  have  the  prom* 
ise,  *Lo,  lam  with  you  alwajs.'  ^he  presence^ 
of  Jesus  is  sufficient  to  make  glad  *  the  wiMer* 
ness,'  and  the  desert  to  rejoice  and  blossom  like 
the  rose." 


Cv*17S0IENTI0USNESS. 


113 


CHAPTER  XII. 


CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 

The  charifee  of  quarters  to  Chatham  very 
soon  occurred,  and  in  September  following  we 
find  Captain  Hamn^ond  dating  a  letter  from 
thence  on  the  subject  of  the  establishment  of 
lan  army  prayer-union.     This  suggestion  had 

been  put  forward  by  Captain  T ,  formerly  of 

the  Second  Lifeguards ;  and  in  reply  to  a  com- 
munication on  the  subject,  Captain  Hammond 
writes: 

"  Chatham,  September  15,  1851. 

"I  have  to  thank  you,  as  well  as  some  other 
friend,  for  your  having  sent  me  your  proposal 
for.  an  army  prayer-union.  Most  cordially  do 
I  unite  with  you  in  the  object  proposed ;  and  I 
bless  God  that  he  has  put  it  in  your  heart  to 
undertake  it.  To  me  it  appears  very  singular 
that  this  object  should  have  been  contemplated 
and  carried  into  effect  by  some  of  God's  ser- 
vants, who  feel  an  interest  in  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  the  army,  at  this  particular  time.  For 
it  so  happens  that  I  had  been  thinking  upon  this 


Hammond. 


8 


114 


CAPT.  H.  M.  HAMHOND. 


Tery  same  subject  for  several  weeks  past;  and 
it  was  my  intention  to  take  immediate  steps 
towards  forming  such  a  prayer-union.  I  had 
thought  of  the  names  of  about  forty  friends,  to 
whom  I  was  going  to  write,  when,  to  my  sur- 
prise and  great  delight,  your  proposal  was  put 
into  my  hands  last  evening  by  my  friend  Cap- 
tain J ,  and  I  was  rejoiced  to  find  that  the 

desire  of  my  heart  had  been  anticipated  and 
accomplished  already.  Your  name  had  been 
suggested  to  my  mind  as  one  who  might  well 
undertake  to  receive  names,  etc. ;  but  amidst 
your  multiplied  engagements  in  various  Chris- 
tian objects,  I  hardly  imagined  you  could  have 
undertaken  it.  God  grant  that  the  proposal 
may  commend  itself  to  very  many  dear  breth- 
ren in  the  army  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus." 

At  Chatham,  as  usual.  Captain  Hammond 
sought  immediate  occasion  for  usefulness,  and 
lent  his  zealous  cooperation  towards  another 
institution  at  that  time  projected:  The  Na- 
val and  Military  Scripture  Readers'  Associa- 
tion : 

"  The  proposed  Naval  and  Military  Scripture 
Readers'  Association,"  he  says,  in  a  letter  to 
an  officer,  '4s  a  delightful  idea.    May  the  Lord 


CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 


115 


}ture 
r  to 
jord 


bring  good  out  of  it.  I  am  strongly  of  opinion 
that  it  would  be  better  to  act  quite  independ- 
ently of  any  other  existing  society.  If  it  is 
distinctly  a  naval  and  military  thing,  many 
more  supporters  may  be  reckoned  upon,  than  if 
it  were  connected  with  any  thing  else.    I  have 

written  to  ask  W if  he  would  not  take 

part  in  such  a  movement.'' 

Yet,  with  his  hands  always  employed  in  some 
^useful  work,  he  still  felt  that  he  was  doing  too 
littlo-— less  than  he  might,  and  less  than  others. 
"I  envy  those  men,"  he  says,  "who  find  time 
for  every  thing,  and  who  get  through  all  that 
they  mean  to  do.  I  believe  we  might  do  more 
than  we  have  any  idea  of,  if  we  are  only  resolved 
to  do  it;  and  this  is  true  in  spiritual  as  well  as 
natural  things.  The  indolent  Christian  cannot 
be  a  faithful  one.  The  soul  will  and  does  lan- 
guish, if  we  cease  from  active  and  self-denying 
diligence  in  all  things.  Oh  to  4iave  the  film 
removed  from  our  eyes,  and  to  see  the  ruined 
and  miserable  condition  of  those  who  are  with- 
out Christ ;  and  to  behold  also  the  glory,  the 
fulness,  and  the  freeness  of  grace  that  there  is 
in  Jesus.  I  feel  how  easy  it  is  to  become  care- 
less and  indifferent  about  the  souls  of  others, 


116 


OAPT.  If.  M.  HAMMOND. 


from  a  want  of  the  realization  of  these  two 
things." 

And  a  very  short  time  before,  he   wrote, 
March  3,  Newport,  "  I  send  you  a  short  letter 

from  Rev.  Mr.  0 ,  thinking  that  you  may 

find  it  calculated  to  stir  up  and  animate  your 
heart  in  the  great  work  of  'pressing  towards 
the  mark  for  the  prize  of  your  'high  calling  in 
Christ  Jesus.'  ....  I  feel  ashamed  and  hum- 
bled at  my  stunted  growth,  when  one  who  set 
out  long  after  me  has  so  outstripped  me  in  the 
heavenly  race.  This  ought  not,  and  need  not 
to  be.  The  fulness  of  Jesus  is  not  exhausted, 
neither  are  his  promises  limited.  I  feel  that 
my  spiritual  leanness  is  because  of  my  indo- 
lence :  *  Ye  have  not,  because  ye  ask  not.'  Let 
our  motto  be  henceforth,  'Looking  unto  Je- 


M> 


8US. 

At  Chatham,  Captain  Hammond  formed,  with 
an  officer  of  the  Royal  Engineers,  one  of  those 
close  friendships  which  seemed  to  spring  up 
and  to  cling  round  him  wherever  his  footsteps 
fell.  This  officer,  recurring  to  that  happy 
acquaintance,  says : 

"  We  had  known  each  other  but  a  v«ry  short 
time  before  we  became  intimate  friends.     I 


OON&OIENTIOUBNBBS. 


in 


short 


have  foand  a  delight  in  intercourse  with  him 
Buch  as  I  have  seldom  experienced ;  and  in  our 
rides  and  walks  together,  and  eyenings  very 
often  spent  at  each  other's  houses,  we  eigoyed 
a  hearty,  friendly  sympathy,  which  I  look  back 
upon  as  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  of  my 
life.  While  at  Chatham,  he  was  ever  thinking 
of  doing  good.  The  first  scheme  of  usefulness 
he  set  on  foot  there,  was  a  Sunday-school  for  the 
children  of  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  which  he 
superintended  and  managed,  with  the  assistance 

of  his  wife,  Mrs.  J ,  and  other  friends.  There 

was  some  opposition  to  the  establishment  of 
this  school;  but  he  was  not  thereby  discour- 
aged in  the  work,  but  continued  it  during  the 
whole  time  he  was  at  Chatham,  until  ordered 
to  Canterbury  in  the  following  year.  He  used 
to  have  a  Bible  class  in  the  week  at  the  boys' 
school  in  Chatham  barracks ;  and  he  took  the 
greatest  delight  in  making  arrangements  for 
their  school  feasts,  making  up  the  decorations 
of  the  room,  and  distributing  Scripture  prints 
among  them.  He  was  besides  instrumental 
in  inducing  several  officers  with  their  families, 
and  young  officers,  with  two  clergymen,  to 
meet  every  fortnight  at  each  other's  houses, 


I  ! 


118 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


for  reading  the  Bible  and  prayer.    There  was 

one  friend  of  ours,  a  lieutenant  in  the  , 

to  whom  he  was  of  especial  use  in  enlightening 
him  with  respect  to  his  views  of  Christianity. 

Mrs.  told  me  in  Malta,  not  long  since, 

that  she  longed  to  write  to  express  her  grati- 
tude for  the  incalculable  benefit  in  spiritual 
things  that  Captain  Hammond  had,  in  a  great 
measure,  been  the  means  of  producing  in  her 


son. 


;; 


Captain  Hammond  thus  writes  to  his  youn- 
gest brother,  who  had  now  entered  the  minis- 
try : 

"  Canterbury,  June  8, 1853. 

"My  dear  H ^By  this  time  you  will  be 

getting  accustomed  to  the  new  duties  and  new 
mode  of  life  in  which  you  have  entered ;  for, 
although  you  have  been  preparing  for  this  work 
for  months,  and  even  for  years  past,  and  have, 
to  some  extent,  been  engaged  in  the  kind  of 
work  which  now  occupies  you,  yet  it  is  a  differ- 
ent thing  really  to  enter  upon  the  work  of  a 
minister  of  Christ,  the  most  blessed  and  the 
most  arduous  which  can  engage  a  man.  And 
who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?  You,  indeed, 
are  not.    But,  blessed  be  God,  your  sufficiency 


CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 


119 


is  of  God ;  and  his  grace  shall  be  sufficient  to 
you  in  every  time  of  need.  We  thought  of  and 
prayed  for  you  on  Sunday,  as  you  were,  for  the 
first  time,  publicly  lifting  up  your  voice  as  an 
ambassador  of  Christ,  and  witnessing  for  him 
to  perishing  sinners.  I  long  to  hear  how  you 
got  through;  though  I  doubt  not  the  Lord 
stood  by  and  strengthened  you.  It  must  be 
indeed  difficult,  perhaps  impossible,  to  human 
nature,  on  such  occasions  so  far  to  forget  self 
as  to  desire  only  the  glory  of  God,  and  that 
his  word  might  be  blessed  in  the  souls  of  the 
hearers,  we  are  so  much  more  prone  to  seek 
to  please  men  than  God  who  trieth  the  hearts. 
May  the  Lord  Almighty  by  his  Spirit  keep 
you  humble  and  prayerful ;  enabling  you  at  all 
times  to  remember  that  you  are  but  the  earthen 
vessel,  the  instrument;  that  you  can  neither 
supply  yourself  with  oil,  nor  communicate  efifect- 
ually  to  others,  without  the  vital  energy  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  How  diJQterent  are  our  callings 
in  life.  I  am  sure  we  are  both  rightly  placed, 
and  that  we  may  both  live  and  die  to  His  glory, 
if  only  we  possess  a  single  eye  and  an  undivided, 
heart May  you  be  endued  with  the  man- 
ifold gifts  and  graces  of  the  Spirit,  and  be  made 


'm 


■n\ 


lA 


120 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


wise  to  win  souls  to  Christ.    We  expect  to 
move  into  camp  on  Tuesday. 

"Ever,  etc.,  "M.  M.  H." 

In  the  autumn  of  1852,  the  whole  battalion 
returned  from  Canada,  and  Maxy  Hammond 
was  ordered  from  the  d^pot  at  Chatham  to 
join  the  head-quarters  at  Canterbury.  His  de- 
light at  rejoining  his  own  company  was  fully 
reciprocated  by  his  men,  who  greeted  him  with 
repeated  and  prolonged  cheers  in  a  manner 
most  impressive,  and  strongly  exhibiting  the 
estimation  in  which  they  held  him.  Those  who 
were  about  him  at  this  time  were  specially 
struck  by  the  depth  of  his  interest  in  the  good 
behavior  and  welfare  of  his  company.  On  one 
occasion,  when  a  non-commissioned  officer  of 
high  responsibility  had  been  guilty  of  grave 
misconduct,  Maxy  Hammond^s  distress  was  ex- 
treme. One  who  knew  him  best  described  his 
grief  at  that  occurrence  as  acute,  and  that  he 
seemed  to  feel  it  as  keenly  as  if  a  family  afflic- 
tion had  befallen  him.  At  this  time  the  colonel 
of  the  regiment  gave  him  the  entire  charge  of 
both  the  week-day  and  Sunday-schools.  He 
had  also  charge  of  the  band,  and  took  great 
pains  with  the  buglers,  always  speaking  of  them 


CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 


121 


as  "his  boys."  He  induced  them  to  attend  the 
Sunday-school,  by  getting  up  for  them  a  class 
in  a  separate  room,  that  their  dignity  might 
not  be  offended  by  being  classed  with  the  rest. 
While  he  was  at  Canterbury,  in  the  spring 
of  1853,  he  employed  himself  in  getting  up  lec- 
tures for  the  men  on  general  subjects ;  and  ho 
wrote,  and  prepared  maps  for  this  purpose, "  on 
the  Opening  of  the  Peninsular  Campaigns  of 
1812,  including  the  Battle  of  Salamanca."  To 
do  all  to  tls^  glory  of  God,  was  the  principle 
that  pervaded  Maxy  Hammond's  life,  and  influ- 
enced all  his  habits.  Hence  many  occupations, 
to  which  he  was  by  nature  rather  disinclined 
than  otherwise,  were  at  once  seen  in  a  new 
light,  and  adopted  with  the  pleasure  which 
accompanies  the  performance  of  a  duty.  He 
was  not  naturally  studious,  nor  even  fond  of 
any  kind  of  reading ;  yet  obeying  the  precept, 
**  Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with 
all  thy  might,"  he  studied  with  much  attention 
books  of  a  professional  character.  From  the 
same  feeling,  he  kept  up  and  increased  the  ele- 
mentary knowledge  of  military  surveying  which 
he  had  acquired  at  Sandhurst;  and  while  ho 
was  quartered  at  Canterbury,  he  made  a  care- 


'm 


122 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


ful  military  survey  of  the  adjacent  district. 
He  had  a  very  decided  taste,  however,  for  the 
practical  part  of  his  profession,  both  in  the 
details  of  its  internal  economy  and  in  the  work 
of  the  regiment  in  the  field.  When  the  Rifles 
were  at  Canterbury,  a  sham-fight  was  project- 
ed, and  came  off  in  a  neighboring  park.  The 
Rifle  battalion  was  formed  into  two  divisions, 
one  of  course  representing  the  enemy,  with 
three  squadrons  of  the  Carbiniers,  and  a  troop 
of  horse-artillery  acting  in  combination  and 
support.  The  ground  was  well  adapted  for 
one  of  those  mimic  actions  with  which  we  have 
become  familiar,  both  at  Chobham  and  at  Al- 
dershott ;  and  the  writer  well  remembers  the 
thorough  spirit  of  enjoyment  with  which  Cap- 
tain Hammond  entered  into  the  arrangement 
of  the  programme,  and  its  subsequent  execu- 
tion. 

During  the  summer  of  1853,  his  eldest  child 
was  born,  an  event  of  no  little  happiness  and 
cause  for  thankfulness  to  him.  She  wa|  named 
Nina  Charlotte;  and  he  speaks  of  her  as  "a 
dear  little  thing,  a  precious  gift  from  the  Lord, 
lent  to  us  by  him,  to  be  trained  up  for  him,  and 
we  trust,  to  be  his  to  all  eternity." 


CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 


123 


«, 


The  remaining  months  of  1853  were  passed 
quietly  in  camp  at  Chobham,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  autumn  the  second  battalion  of  the  Rifles 
was  ordered  to  Portsmouth. 

It  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1853 
that  a  little  cloud  arose  in  the  East,  by  many 
scarcely  heeded,  as  soon  to  pass  away,  but 
whose  dark  folds,  drifting  heavily  over  the 
Euxine,  burst  forth  at  last  in  a  peal  of  thun- 
der upon  the  Danube.  Before  May,  the  Cos- 
sacks of  the  Don  and  the  Oural  were  in  move- 
ment. Gortschakoff  crossed  the  Pruth,  and 
occupied  Wallachia  with  a  powerful  army,  and 
Europe  was  roused  from  her  long  slumber  of 
peace  by  the  cannon  of  Oltenitza.  To  us  who 
calmly  and  sadly  review  the  speculative  excite- 
ments of  that  period,  how  charged  with  mourn- 
ful thoughts,  yet  how  full  of  sweet  comfort  are 
the  closing  sentences  of  this  letter  of  Decem- 
ber: 

"  The  opening  of  the  new  year  is  very  dark 
and  threatening.  I  should  tremble  in  looking 
forward,  were  it  not  that  I  know  that  the  Lord 
reigneth.  Humanly  speaking,  there  is  now 
•  little  probability  of  escaping  a  terrible  war. 
If  so,  I  may  never  see  the  close  of  1854.    But 


124 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


what^  peace-giving  consideration  is  it,  that  all 
events  shall  issue  in  the  furtherance  of  God's 
purposes  for  his  own  glory  and  the  glory  of 
his  church.  And  I  humbly  hope  that,  come 
life  or  come  death,  I  may  lay  claim  to  the 
promises  of  my  covenant  God,  and  may  be 
assured  that  nothing  will  separate  me  from  his 
love  in  Christ  Jesus." 


THE  BULGARIAN  CAMPAIGN. 


125 


OHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  BULGARIAN  CAMPAIGN. 

In  the  spring  of  1854  all  hope  that  a  war 
might  be  avoided  was  at  an  end,  and  early  in 
February  several  regiments  received  orders  to 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  embarkation 
for  foreign  service.  Among  the  first  which 
received  orders  was  the  second  battalion  of 
the  Rifle  brigade.  On  the  16th  of  February, 
1854,  Captain  Hammond  writes  to  his  mother 

from  Portsmouth : 

"February  16, 1854. 

"My  dearest  Mother — I  had  scarcely 
reached  the  barracks  before  a  message  arrived 
from  the  captain  of  the  Vulcan  steamer,  to  say 
that  he  had  just  received  orders  to  embark  the 
Rifle  brigade,  and  to  sail  for  Malta  on  the  24th ; 
so  we  shall  be  off  sooner  than  we  expected.  It 
seems  extremely  doubtful  whether  the  troops 
will  disembark  at  Malta  at  all.  The  general 
impression  seems  to  be  that  they  will  only  ren- 
dezvous there,  and  proceed  together  at  once  to 
Turkey 


m 


126 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


Vh-  : 


"  We  are  not  allowed  to  take  any  boxes  with 
US,  and  our  baggage  is  not  to  be  more  than  can 
be  carried  on  the  back  of  a  mule,  that  is,  a 
couple  of  trunks.  I  think  of  getting  for  this 
purpose  a  pair  of  bullock-trunks,  such  as  they 
use  in  India.     I  have  got  every  thing  neces* 

sary I  got  a  telescope  at  Harrises,  an 

excellent  field-glass.  I  shall  wish,  when  I  use 
it,  that  it  could  give  me  a  long  sight  of  your 
much-loved  faces  and  of  the  dear  old  home 
which  I  have  left  behind  me.  But  I  see  you 
all  with  the  eye  of  the  mind ;  and  I  delight  to 
think  that  our  spirits  will  often  be  together 
when  we  bend  before  the  throne  of  grace,  and 
pour  out  our  prayers  for  each  other's  welfare. 
God  grant  that  these  separations  in  time  may 
lead  us  to  long  and  look  for  that  better  inher- 
itance which  is  above.  Pray  for  me,  dearest 
mother,  and  all  of  you,  that  my  faith  may  not 
fail ;  that  whatever  scenes  may  be  before  me,  I 
may  so  live  in  the  love  and  fear  of  God,  that  I 
may  ever  glorify  his  holy  name,  and  may  bear 
witness  for  him  before  my  fellow-men.  With 
fondest  love  to  all, 

"  Ever  your  most  affectionate, 

«  M.  M.  H." 


THE  BULGARIAN  CAMPAIGN. 


12T 


If 


Essentially  a  soldier,  an  ardent  and  intelli- 
gent lover  of  his  profession,  Captain  Hammond 
would  have  hailed  with  an  interest  second  to 
none  the  prospects  of  an  actual  campaign,  had 
no  other  stake  than  his  own  been  risked  by  the 
claims  of  war.  But  there  were  thoughts  at 
such  a  time  that  repressed  the  throb  of  pride 
which  may  lawfully  rise  in  a  soldier's  breast 
when  ordered  to  take  the  field.  The  desolate 
wife,  the  sweet  unconscious  child,  the  broken-up 
home — these  might  well  bring  sadness  to  his 
heart.  Yet  in  such  trials — for  who  can  doubt 
"how  sore  such  trials  were  to  such  a  nature  ? — ^he 
knew  where  to  look  for  support.  "  Thou  wilt 
keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed 
on  thee ;  because  he  trusteth  in  thee."  To  this 
approaching  separation  he  alludes  often. 

To  his  parents  he  says : 

"The  trial  is  a  bitter  one,  but  we  are 
silenced  in  remembering  that  it  is  the  will  of 
that  tender  and  loving  Saviour  who  has  said 
that  *  the  very  hairs  of  our  head  are  all  num- 
bered.' I  know  that  the  path  of  duty  is  one  of 
safety.  I  go  away  in  the  hope  of  a  safe  return, 
if  the  Lord  will ;  but  let  us  all  long  and  look 
for  that  union  abov^,  where  we  shall  see  Christ 


128 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


as  he  iS)  and  be  made  like  unto  him.  God  has 
been  very  gracious  to  me.  I  never  enjoyed 
more  perfect  peace  or  rest  of  mind  than  at  this 
present  time.    To  him  only  be  the  praise." 

On  the  27th  of  February,  the  second  battal- 
ion of  the  Rifle  brigade  embarked  at  ^Ports- 
mouth, and  on  the  11th  of  March  they  reached 
Malta  harbor.  Thence  Capt.  Hammond  wrote 
from  on  board  the  Vulcan,  to  an  old  brother 
ofl&cer,  who  had  been  one  of  Capt.  Hammond's 
most  intimate  companions  when  they  were  both 
young  subalterns  in  the  Rifles. 

"  I  must  say  I  have  no  desire  for  bloodshed, 
and  should  be  glad  enough  to  be  sent  back 
again  in  peace  to  my  wife  and  home.  But  these 
things  are  in  higher  hands  than  ours ;  and  it  i« 
a  matter  of  unspeakable  comfort  to  feel  that 
we  have  a  Father  in  heaven,  under  whose  pro- 
tection and  guidance  all  must  be  well.  You 
and  I  have  experienced  great  mercies  at  the 
hand  of  Q-od.  It  is  a  solemn  question  to  ask 
ourselves,  What  effect  have  these  mercies  pro- 
duced in  our  hearts  ?  Forgive  me  for  asking 
you  whether  you  have  found  pardon  and  peace 
through  the  cross  of  Christ.  If  you  have  not, 
delay  no  longer  to  cast  yourself  upon  him  for 


i 


THE  BULGARIAN  CAMPAIGN. 


129 


salyation,  and  remember  that  he  is  able  to  save 

to  the  uttermost  those  who  come  to  him.  I  would 

thia  entreat  you,  my  dear  friend,  to  remember  what 

a  tremendous  reality  religion  is,  a  reality  upon 

which  hangs  our  destiny  for  eternity.    As  far 

as  I  have  practised  it  for  the  last  nine  or  ten 

years,  I  have  experienced  its  blessedness  under 

all  the  changing  circumstances  of  life ;  and  it  is 

4N        that  which  induces  me  now  to  press  the  subject 

on  you.    That  you  too  may  experience  the 

peace  and  happiness  of  Christ's  service,  is  the 

earnest  prayer  of  your  sincere  friend, 

*'  M.  M.  HAMMOND." 
To  his  wife : 

"  Malta,  March  15. 
"  I  must  write  you  a  few  words  of  love,  and 
tell  you  how  happy  I  was  made  on  Monday 
evening,  by  the  receipt  of  your  precious  letter. 
Tears  of  mingled  joy  and  sorrow  coursed  freely 
down  my  cheek.  I  could  not  but  rejoice  and 
bless  my  God  for  the  calm  and  contented  spirit 
in  which  you  write.  I  do  earnestly  pray  for 
you ;  and  I  know  that  you  will  pray  for  me ; 
but  whatever  may  befall  either  of  us,  may  we 
be  enabled  to  say,  heartily  and  unreservedly, 
*  Thy  will  be  done.'  This  spirit  will  glorify 
Jesus.    My  dearest  wife  pray  for  me,  that  my 


Hammond. 


9 


130 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


lamp  may  be  kept  trimmed ;  and  amidst  all 
excitements  and  earthward  tendencies,  that  it 
may  burn  brightly,  receiving  new  supplies  of 
grace  each  day  and  hour.  ...  I  am  sure  that 
you  are  right  in  asking  and  expecting  that  the 
Lord,  in  his  mercy,  will  bring  me  back  again 
to  you  in  peace,  provided  that  you  are  willitig 
that  he  should  give  or  withhold  this  blessing 
as  it  seems  good  to  him.  *  Be  careful  for  noth- 
ing ;  but  in  every  thing  with  prayer  and  suppli- 
cation let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto 
God.'  How  I  long  to  see  again  that  darling 
little  Nina.  I  love  to  think  of  her,  and  to  re- 
call her  bright  face;  and  I  often  thank  God 
that  he  hds  given  you  this  precious  child  to 
cheer  and  gladden  your  heart.  ... 

"The  prevailing  opinion  seems  to  be,  that 
we  shall  not  move  from  here  until  the  cavalry 
comes  up,  which  may  not  be  before  the  begin- 
ning of  next  month,  and  then  we  are  quite 
ignorant  of  our  destination— whether  Constan- 
tinople, the  bay  of  Enos,  or  Adrianople.  There 
seems  to  be  little  hope  of  a  pacific  arrangementr 
If  we  are  to  be  plunged  into  war,  we  may  pray, 
*  Bless  thou  our  sword '  in  going  forfli  to  main- 
tain the  cause  of  right  against  might.     And 


THE  BULGARIAN  CAMPAIGN. 


131 


tt  all 
lat  it 
ies  of 
3  that 
it  the 
again 
illi^g 
essing 
noth- 

mppli- 
1  unto 
arling 
to  re- 
p  God 
ild  to 

that 
avalry 
3egin- 
quito 
nstan- 
There 
imentr 
pray, 
main- 
And 


surely  we  may  hope  that  tho  Lord  will  be  or? 
our  side  in  the  contest,  though  he  may  justly 
chasten  us  for  our  many  national  and  individual 


sins 


)) 


•  •  •  • 


«  Malta,  March  28, 1854. 

"  My  dearest  Mother —  . . .  We  know  noth- 
ing as  yet,  except  that  we  are  to  go  to  Gal- 
lipoli,  probably  to  occupy  ourselves  with  spade 
and  pickaxe,  in  throwing  up  works  which  it  is 
said  are  to  be  made  across  that  narrow  neck  of 
knd.  .  . .  How  precious,  at  such  a  time,  is  the 
belief  in  the  special  providence  of  God.  This 
is  my  comfort  in  thinking  of  those  from  whom 
I  am  separated ;  and  this,  I  know,  is  your  com- 
fort in  thinking  of  me.  *  He  '^.oeth  all  things 
well.'  We  hear  that  a  siege-train  of  eighty 
heavy  guns  is  preparing  at  Woolwich.    The 

Sappers  arrived  yesterday ;  Captain  B is 

to  follow  with  pontoons.  All  this  looks  sadly 
like  war.  But  the  French  officers  here  say 
that  it  is  *  une  affaire  JinieJ  There  have  been 
five  or  six  transports  in  here.  We  had  a  grand 
turnout  for  General  Canrobert,  who  was  partic^ 
ularly  pleased  with  the  Rifle  battalion.  Many 
of  the  officers  and  men  have  been  on  shore, 
and  have  been  fraternizing  with  our  people. 


132 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


•*  March  30. — Yesterday  we  attempted  to 
embark,  but  the  arrangements  were  so  blun- 
dered that  all,  except  one  company,  had  to 
march  back  again  to  their  barracks  for  the 
night.  They  attempted  to  put  all  the  stores  on 
board,  a  month's  provision  for  three  thousand 
men,  camp  equipage,  ammunition,  engineering 
tools,  etc.,  and  about  twenty-five  horses  and 
twelve  hundred  men  at  the  same  time. 

"  General  Brown  arrived  yesterday." 

To  his  wife : 

"  *  Golden  Fleece,*  .  .  . 
"  At  anchor  ofif  Cape  Servi,  April  3, 1854. 

"  It  is  such  a  comfort  and  privilege  having 

dear  Ot on  board.    His  natural  character 

suits  me,  and  he  is  so  full  of  affection  and  sym- 
pathy. I  had  a  delightful  talk  with  him  last 
evening  before  going  to  bed,  and  I  felt  how 
blessed  is  that  bond  of  union  which  unites  us 
in  Christ.  I  have  been  thinking  over  the  verse 
in  first  John,  *  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any 
time.  He  that  dwelleth  in  love  dwelleth  in 
God,  and  God  in  him.'  Does  it  not  mean,  that 
as  we  cannot  see  God  so  as  to  love  him,  he  has 
represented  himself  in  his  people,  so  that,  in 
loving  them,  we  may  love  himself.  ... 


THE  BULGARIAN  CAMPAIGN. 


133 


"I  had   an   interesting  walk  with  young 
— ,  of  the  Engineers,  on  deck  this  evening. 


A- 

He  seems  very  desirous  of  following  the  Lord 
fully,  and  took  in  very  good  part  a  word  of 

advice  from  G ,  about  cards.    is  well 

disposed,  but  his  indolence^  poor  fellow,  is  a 
fearful  barrier  to  his  spiritual  growth.  ... 

"  Have  you  heard  any  thing  about  the  poor 

women  from  Mr.  B lately?    Poor  crea- 

Ifcures,  I  fear  they  must  be  in  a  wretched  state. 
Let  us  help  them  as  much  as  we  can,  and  let  us 
give  to  some  of  the  societies,  if  the  funds  will 
admit. 

"Thursday,  April  6,  8  a.  m.,  Gallipoli.— 
Arrived  safe  last  night." 


134 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


!liii 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


THE  CAMP. 


The  transports'  wliich  had  conveyed  the 
first  division  of  the  British  army  had  now 
reached  their  destination,  and  were  lying  at 
their  moorings,  preparatory  to  disembarking 
their  troops  upon  Turkish  territory.  Never 
before  had  English  troops  encamped  upon 
those  shores.  The  first  appearance  therefore 
of  the  Rifles  and  Sappers  must  have  roused,  to 
some  degree  of  excitement,  the  almost  immova- 
ble and  phlegmatic  Turks.  The  formation  of 
the  strong  lines  which  were  to  serve  as  a  basis 
of  future  operations,  had  already  been  deter- 
mined by  the  engineer  officers,  who  had  previ- 
ously surveyed  the  ground  for  that  purpose; 
and  as  soon  as  it  was  possible,  the  disembar- 
katioij  was  effected,  and  the  troops  proceeded  to 
entrench  themselves  in  their  position. 

From  his  letters  to  his  wife  we  quote,  April 
11,1854: 

"  And  now  for  our  encampment.  We  are  on 
the  left  of  the  position,  which  is  to  be  fortified 


THE  CAMP. 


135 


by  a  continuous  line  of  field  works  across  the 
isthmus.  The  ground  is  undulating,  and  rising 
to  a  height  of  about  five  hundred  feet.  There 
is  but  a  poor  supply  of  water,  and  that  could 
be  obtained  only  with  great  labor,  by  digging 
wells,  making  reservoirs,  etc.,  which  will  prob- 
.ably  be  dry  all  the  summer.  Every  stick  of 
wood  which  we  require  for  cookiiig  has  to  be 
fetched  upon  the  miserable  bullock-wagons. 
We  have  the  utmost  difficulty  in  obtaining  sup- 
plies, and  think  ourselves  fortunate  if  we  can 
get  a  few  onions  and  a  little  rice  to  add  to  our 
ration  beef.  Green  coffee  is  our  staple  drink. 
It  seems  to  be  a  country  without  resources. 
The  people  themselves  are  almost  starving. 
How  an  army  is  to  move  in  this  country  I  can- 
not imagine.  We  are  told  to  provide  ourselves 
with  baggage  animals.  Captains  are  allowed 
one  animal  on  which  their  own  luggq^ge,  tent, 
camp-kettle,  etc.,  are  to  be  carried.  Field 
officers  no  more.  Subalterns  have  one  animal 
and  a  tent.  I  have  got  two  ponies.  Jack  and 
Gill." 

"  Camp  near  Gallipoli,  May  1,  1854. 
"  Lord  RDglan  arrived  on  the  28th,  and  after 
dn  interview  with  General  Brown,  went  the 


'ffi 


M 


M 


136 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


m 


if" 


same  evening  to  Constantinople.  The  works 
here  are  progressing  rapidly,  and  will  probably 
be  completed  in  a  few  weeks. 

"  One  feels  lost  in  trying  to  conjecture  as  to 
what  may  happen ;  but  there  is  peace  in  leaving 
all  in  His  hands  whose  wisdom  cannot  err,  and 

whose  love  cannot  fail What  should 

we  do  if  we  had  not  this  hope  full  of  immortal- 
ity to  comfort  and  sustain  our  hands  at  such  a 
time  as  this  ?  I  sometimes  wonder  how  those 
people  can  endure  it  who  have  ^jiot  this  source 
of  consolation.  We  have  just  heard  of  the 
bombardment  and  destruction  of  Odessa.  How 
awful  are  these  beginnings  of  the  horrors  of 
war  I  How  it  should  make  us  pray  for  peace ; 
and  long  for  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  peace 
and  righteousness,  which  shall  at  length  dawn 
upon  our  sin-smitten  world. 

"  We  enjoy  our  Saturday  evenings  so  much ; 
they  are  so  refreshing  in  thik  place,  where  one 
is  constrained  so  often  to  say,  *  Woe  is  me,  that 
I  sojourn  in  Mesech,  that  I  dwell  in  the  tents  of 
Kedar  I'  The  language  of  the  men  is  awful ; 
but  I  am  thankful  to  say  that  the  officers  have 
been  unanimous  in  trying  to  repress  it.  One 
has  been  painfully  reminded  of  David^s  dcscrip- 


THE  CAMP. 


137 


n 


tion  of  the  wicked:  *  Their  mouths  are  full  of 
cursing/  Notwithstanding  this  apparent  god- 
lessness,  it  is  strange  with  what  avidity  tracts 
are  received.  I  wish  I  had  a  large  supply.  I 
am  in  hopes  that  some  d^pot  will  be  established 
at  Constantinople  for  this  purpose.  The  Bible 
Society  have  an  agent  there,  and  they  have  de- 
termined to  issue  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament 
to  every  soldier  and  sailor  in  these  parts,  if 
possible. 

"  We  are  to  embark  on  Saturday  for  Scutari* 
The  First  Royals  arrived  to-day,  and  the  Thir- 
ty-eighth are  expected  in  a  few  days.  The 
Melita  also  arrived  with  staff-ofl&cers,  including 
dear  J P :  dear  fellow,  you  may  con- 
ceive the  joy  it  was  to  us  both  to  meet  again. 
This  is  another  of  the  mercies  mingled  in  our 
cup.  *He  stayeth  the  rough  wind  in  the  day  of 
his  east  wind.' ....     God  bless  you*. 

"  The  most  paioful  part  of  this  kind  of  life 
is,  the  being  obliged  to  hear  the  horrible  oaths 
and  bad  language  that  the  men  use.  This 
morning  I  spoke  to  my  company  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  I  trust  there  may  be  some  improve- 
ment outwardly.  But  Oh,  one's  heart  sinks  at 
the  thought  of  so  many  souls  dead  in  sins." 


138 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


"  ScuTABT,  May  9,  1864. 

"  We  left  our  encampment  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing early,  and  for  the  first  time  loaded  our 
mules  with  baggage  for  the  march.  About 
half-way  the  whole  force  was  reviewed  by 
General  Brown,  in  presence  of  all  the  French 
generals  and  their  staflFs.  The  morning  was 
excessively  hot,  and  the  men  over-weighted. 
Many  poor  fellows  fainted  in  the  ranks.  It 
is  very  painful  to  see  men  fairly  sinking  under 
the  heavy  loads  on  'their  backs,  and  very  hu- 
miliating to  be  obliged  to  confess  that  the 
French  are  so  superior  to  us  in  the  equipment 
of  their  soldiers. 

"  We  arrived  here  on  Sunday  morning.  The 
view  of  Constantinople,  as  you  get  near,  is  cer- 
tainly very  beautiful ;  and  the  tents  of  our  army 
on  the  Scutari  side  add  much  to  the  picturesque 
effect.  The  town  is  built  on  a  slope,  and  the 
Golden  Horn  divides  StambQjul  from  the  French 
districts.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  water 
stands  Scutari.  Stamboul  is  very  striking, 
with  its  many  domes  and  minarets  and  cypress- 
es, and  the  Sultan's  seraglio,  occupying  a  large 
space  of  ground  at  the  corner  next  to  the  Gold- 
en Horn 


m 


»    ■ 


THE  CAMP. 

"  I  had  a  visit  yesterday  from  Mr.  T- 


139 


the  Free  Church  missionary  to  the  Jews  in 
Constantinople.  He  appears  to  be  a  very  nice 
and  good  man.  There  are  80,000  Spanish  Jews 
in  Constantinople.  They  were  expelled  from 
Spain  by  Philip  III.  at  the  end  of  the  sixteenth 
century.  I  believe  they  speak  a  compound  of 
Arabic  and  Spanish ;  but  they  cannot  read  the 
Roman  character,  so  the  books  are  in  the  Span- 
ish language,  with  the  Hebrew  character.  Lit- 
tle more  has  been  done  among  them  than  the 
establishment  of  schools,  and  the  awakening  a 

spirit  of  inquiry.    Mr.  T told  us  that  the 

American  missionaries  are  doing  a  great  deal 
of  good  among  the  Armenians.  There  are  very 
many  Protestant  congregations  of  them  scatter- 
ed throughout  Turkey,  both  in  Europe  and  Asia. 
There  is  perfect  toleration  here  given  to  all 
religions,  and  the  Bible  may  be  freely  circulat- 
ed to  all  but  the  Mohammedans.  With  them 
the  spirit  of  persecution  is  still  as  strong  as 

ever.    Mr.  T told  us  that  a  Mohammedan 

was  put  to  death  at  Adrianople  about  three 
months  ago,  for  becoming  a  Christian.  I  trust 
that  France  and  ourselves  will  insist  on  relig- 
ious liberty  to  all,  before  we  leave  this  country." 


140 


GAPT.  M..  M.  HAMMOXD. 


«  Scutari,  May  22, 1864. 

.  .  .  .  "  Never  before  have  I  felt  so  much  need 
of  putting  on  the  armor  of  God ;  and  it  seems 
sometimes  as  if  this  is  the  place  where  Satan's 
seat  is;  and  my  soul  longs  for  the  perfect 
purity  above,  where  there  will  be  no  sights 
and  sounds  of  sin,  and  where  we  shall  no  lon- 
ger be  made  wretched  by  the  corruption  within, 
which,  after  all,  is  our  worst  enemy 

"  Amid  so  much  that  is  trying  from  within 
and  without,  I  have  found  that  the  good  Shep- 
herd who  is  leading  us  along  these  rugged 
paths  can  give  songs  in  the  wilderness,  and 
that  he  does  provide  rills  of  comfort  and  re- 
freshment such  as  the  world  knows  not  of.  Such 
a  stream  of  mercy  was  the  communion  which 
was  administered  yesterday  in  one  of  the  pas- 
sages of  the  barracks.  I  felt  it  to  be  a  pecul- 
iarly solemn  and  affecting  season.  The  circum- 
stances under  which  we  were  met  together  in 
this  foreign  and  heathen  land,  where  we  have 
been  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  war,  produced 
a  feeling  in  my  mind  such  as  I  never  before  re- 
member. The  love  of  Christ  did  appear  to  be 
inexpressibly  precious,  and  his  words  of  love 
•in  John  6,  melted  me. to  tears     I  think  the 


THE  CAMP. 


141 


and 


thoughts  of  his  love  filled  my  heart  above  every 

thing  else.   In  the  afternoon  I  went  with  F 

and  J-. —  to  the  service  of  L^e  embassy.  The 
chaplain  is  a  truly  good  and  very  superior  man. 
He  preached  on  Psalm  23:4,  *The  shadow  of 
death/  a  beautiful  sermon.  I  was  particularly 
struck  with  his  searching  address  to  believers 
on  the  fear  qfevilj  the  cause  of  which  was  to  be 
found  in  our  practical  unbelief.  He  bade  us 
look  to  the  state  of  our  spiritual  aflfections,  and 
to  find  out  the  source  of  this  root  of  bitterness. 
The  realized  presence  of  the  Lord  can  alone 
cast  out  this  fear. 

"  And  now,  good-night.  May  the  angel  of 
God's  presence  watch  over  thee  and  preserve 
thee  from  evil  by  night  and  by  day."  .... 

"  May  23. — I  believe  it  is  pretty  certain  now 
that  the  Light  division  is  to  move  to  Varna  on 
Saturday,  and  the  remainder  of  the  army  will 
follow  as  soon  as  possible.  The  report  is  that 
Silistria  is  invested  by  70,000  Russians,  and 
cannot  hold  out;  so  that  perhaps  we  shall  be 
pushed  on  to  relieve  the  place,  if  it  has  not 
already  fallen,  in  concert  with  the  French  and 
Turks.  These  things,  uncertain  as  they  are, 
make  one  feel  that  the  realities  of  war  may  be 


I4fi 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


near  at  hand.  But,  dearest,  this  is  one  of  the 
numbered  waves  that  we  trust  are  wafting  us 
to  the  haven  of  rest  where  we  would  be. 

•*  10,  p.  M. — The  order  has  come  out  for  the 
Light  division  to  embark  on  Friday  the  26th, 
for  Varna.  So  by  the  time  this  reaches  you,  I 
shall  probably  be  in  our  new  encampment, 
somewhere  between  Varna  and  Shumla.  Fare- 
well." 

"June  28. — By  the  time  this  reaches  you, 
you  will  have  heard  of  the  retreat  of  the  Rus- 
sians irom  Silistria.  We  march  to  Devna  to- 
morrow for  certain." 

"  Camp  at  Devna,  July  8, 1854. 
"  What  a  comfort  it  is,  in  such  troublous 

times  as  these,  amid  wars  and  rumorS  of  wars, 

to  turn  to  the  promises  of  the  gospel ;  and  to 

feel  that,  when  these  things  come  to  pass,  we 

may  lift  up  our  hands  and  recognize,  above  the 

storm  of  human  commotions  and  the  intrigues 

of  politicians  and  statesmen,  the  hand  that  is 

directing  and  overruling  all.    And  we  know 

that  it  is  the  same  hand  that  was  once  pierced 

for  us,  and  which  was  once  stretched  over  the 

troubled  sea,  *and  there  was  a  great  calm.' 

God  grant  that  out  of  all  these  things  showers 


THE  GAMP. 


U3 


of  blessings  may  come  down,  and  the  gospel  be 
promoted  in  the  East/' 

"  Camp  Monastir,  July  26. 
"  I  am  sorry  to  say  cholera  has  appeared 
among  us  within  the  last  few  days.  There  is 
a  quantity  of  unripe  fruit  about,  plums  and 
apricots ;  and  the  men  will  eat  it,  notwithstand- 
ing a  positive  prohibition,  and  their  being  pun- 
ished if  caught.  The  division  was  moved  in 
consequence.  This  is  such  a  beautiful,  hpalthy 
looking  place  that  I  trust  the  awful  disease  may 
abate.  But  after  all,  though  we  may  talk  about 
second  causes,  it  is  the  finger  of  God  that  is 
upon  us,  justly  punishing  us  for  our  sins.  The 
wonder  is,  not  that  he  should  punish  us  for  our 
oflfences,  but  that  we  are  not  utterly  consumed. 
What  comfort  there  is  in  what  David  said, 
when  he  chose  the  judgment  of  pestilence  in 
preference  to  famine  or  the  sword  of  the  enemy : 
*Let  us  now  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Lord,  for 
his  mercies  are  great,'  The  saddest  part  of  all 
is  to  think  of  the  unpreparedness  of  those  pooi 
souls  to  meet  their  God,  when  they  are  sudden- 
ly cut  down  in  a  moment.  And  yet  you  hear 
the  same  words  of  cursing  and  ungodliness  as 
ever  I" 


144 


OAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


/ 


**  MONASTIR,  August  10. 

"  My  faith  has  been  sorely  tried  of  late,  and 
there  have  been  times  when  I  could  not  cast 
myself  upon  God,  or  trust  the  keeping  of  my 
soul  and  body  to  him,  when  the  enemy  seemed 
saying  to  me, '  Where  is  now  thy  God  V  What 
a  precious  soul-comforting  psalm  is  that  forty- 
second.  The  thought  of  home  made  me  fear 
death ;  but  now,  through  the  mercy  of  the  Lord, 
the  cloud  has  passed  away,  and  I  hope  I  can 
trust  in  the  love  and  wisdom  and  faithfulness 

« 

of  my  Saviour  God." 

From  the  foregoing  letters  we  may  infer  how 
intense  was  the  trial  which  Captain  Hammond 
was  called  upon  to  undergo  during  this  period 
of  sickness  and  inaction  in  camp.  There  can 
be  no  doubt,  more  especially  from  his  own 
statements  afterwards,  that  the  bitterness  of 
separation  from  his  wife  and  child  was  increg-s- 
ed  by  the  fear  of  death :  not  in  the  sense  ap- 
plicable to  those  who  fear  because  they  have 
no  other  prospect  than  "  a  certain  fearful  look- 
ing for  of  judgment."  His  was  a  hope,  blessed 
be  God,  sure  and  steadfast.  But  there  was  a 
deep  longing  for  life,  a  burning  thirst  for  a 
return,  that,  if  it  were  possible,  he  might  once 


THE  CAMP. 


145 


more  see  his  wife,  his  child,  and  the  home  that 
he  loved.  He  looked  for  a  prolongation  of  life, 
in  order  fhat  this  reluctance  to  acquiesce  so 
completely  in  Qod^s  will,  as  to  desire,  notwith- 
standing, that  he  might  depart  and  be  with 
Christ,  might  be  entirely  overcome;  that  he 
might,  from  his  heart,  and  without  reservation, 
say,  *  Oh^eath,  where  is  thy  sting  V  That  this 
prayer  was  abundantly  answered,  the  sequel 
will  show.  His  wife,  to  whom  these  letters 
were  addressed,  has  added,  at  the  close  of  one 
of  them,  this  note : 

"  When  he  came  home  in  October,  1854,  he 
alluded  to  this  time  as  one  of  much  inward  con- 
flict, much  more  than  he  had  expressed  in  his 
letters.  His  desires  after  home  were  painfully 
strong;  and  it  was  a  source  of  deep  humility 
to  him,  that  for  many  days  he  could  not  bring 
hig  will  into  subjection  to  God's  will.  He 
could  not  feel  willing  to  be  taken  away  then, 
without  seeing  those  he  loved  once  more.  He 
used,  at  this  season,  frequently  to  rise  and  pray 
in  the  middle  of  the  night — ^pray,  not  for  life, 
but  for  entire  submission.  He  several  times 
alluded  to  it  as  the  time  of  severest  conflict  of 
soul  that  he  had  ever  passed  through." 


Hammond. 


10 


1 1 


146 


CAPT.  H.  M.  HAMMOKD. 


To  his  wife: 

**  Camp  Monastir,  Aug.  25. 

"It  is  believed  that  we  shall  Embark  on 
ThursQay ;  so  all  doubt  is  now  at  an  end  about 
the  grand  expedition.  *  I  have  prayed  for  thee, 
that  thy  faith  fail  not.'  The  details  are  not 
fully  known,  but  it  is  said  that  we  shall  embark 
some  sixty  or  seventy  thousand  men,  ^eluding 
ten  thousand  Turks;  effect  a  landing  about 
five  miles  from  Sebastopol ;  besiege  fort  Con- 
stantino, which  commands  the  town  and  batter- 
ies, and  which,  if  taken,  would  put  us  in  pos- 
session of  the  place. 

"  I  pray  that  you  may  be  kept  from  sinking. 
Whe^e  the  path  of  duty  is  so  plainly  marked 
out,  we  must  do  all  we  can  not  to  give  way.  I 
was  reading  this  morning  the  fifty-seventh 
psalm.  The  first  verse  came  with  special  com 
fort  to  my  heart :  *  Yea,  in  the  shadow  of  Jhj 
wings  will  I  make  my  refuge,  until  these  calam- 
ities be  overpast." 


( 


THE  HOSPITAL. 


14T 


CHAPTER  XV. 


/ 


THE  HOSPITAL. 

In  the  first  days  of  September,  1854,  took 
place  that  extraordinary  scene  in  Baltshik  bay, 
the  rendezvous  of  the  allied  armies.  Swarm- 
ing like  midges  upon  the  quiet  surface  of  the 
Euxine,  the  transports  poured  in,  and  took  up 
their  positions;  and  above  them  all  towered 
the  mighty  forms  of  the  ships  of  war,  bearing 
the  flags  of  Prance  and  England.  Suspense 
was  at  an  end ;  and  the  troops,  full  of  hope 
and  excitement,  were  at  last  on  the  very  eve  of 
a  mighty  enterprise.  But  while  the  fresh  sea- 
breeze  brought  health,  and  while  excitement 
raised  the  spirits  of  the  army,  Captain  Ham^ 
mond  fell  ill.  A  fever,  caught  from  the  stag- 
nant marshes  of  Devna,  had  stricken  him  down 
at  the  very  moment  when  health  was  most 
needed;  and  by  the  time  the  expedition  had 
reached  Eupatoria,  he  was  prostrated  with  a 
dangerous  illness.  I 

When  the  troops  reached  their  destination, 
and  their  disembarkation  took  place.  Captain 


(  ' 


148 


OAPT.  H.  M.  HAMMOND. 


Hammond's  accompanying  them  was  impossi* 
ble.  He  afterwards  described  his  bodily  suf- 
ferings as  very  great;  but  he  said  they  were 
nothing  to  the  intense  anguish  of  mind  he  felt 
at  being  unable  to  accompany  his  men  when 
the  hour  for  action  had  come.  As  his  mind 
was  wandering,  under  the  effects  of  fever,  he 
was  not  aware  of  his  own  weakness,  and  more 
than  once  insisted  upon  trying  to  dress,  and  to 
make  preparations  for  the  landing  with  the 
troops;  and  he  was  with  difficulty  prevailed 
upon  to  remain  quiet  in  his  berth.  He  was 
ordered  to  remain  on  board ;  and  the  next  mail 
brought  the  following  letter  from  the  colonel 
of  the  battalion : 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Hammond — Maxy's  last  let- 
ter will  have  told  you  that  he  had  not  been 
feeling  well.     A  fortnight  ago  he  was  obliged 

to  put  himself  into  Dr.  F 's  hands.     We 

have  discouraged  him  from  making  the  least 
effort ;  and  it  is  necessary  to  keep  him  as  quiet 
as  possible ;  and  as  he  may  not  write  for  him 
self,  I  have  thought  it  best  to  send  a  few  lines. 
It  is  indeed  a  sourc#  of  additional  regret  that 
wo  are  to  lose  the  services  of  so  good  a  sol- 
dier, when  we  are  about  to  undertake  so  im- 


I  I 


THE  HOSPITAL. 


149 


portant  an  enterprise ;  and  dear  Maxy  feels  it 
as  much  as  we  do.     But  his  landing  is  out  of 

—  accomi 


the  question.    Fortunately  F- 


ipanied 


me,  which  gave  Maxy  not  only  a  tender  friend, 
but  a  skilful  physician." 

As  soon  as  the  army  had  disembarked.  Cap* 
tain  Hammond  was  sent  down  to  Scutari  on 
board  the  Kangaroo,  with  a  large  number  of 
sick.  During  that  voyage  the  wretched  con- 
dition of  the  unhappy  men,  who  were  crowded 
to  suffocation,  and  most  insufficiently  provided 
with  medical  aid  and  necessaries  of  the  most 
ordinary  k^  ^  excited  his  sympathy  and  indig- 
nation; aiivi  when  sufficiently  recovered,  ho 
thought  it  his  duty  to  make  an  official  repre- 
sentation on  the  subject. 

His  next  letter,  in  a  hand  scarcely  legible,  is 
dated  Scutari,  September  1^. 

"  Do  n't  be  frightened  at  my  'infantine'  style 
of  writing.  This  is  my  first  attempt  since  my 
illness.  The  Lord  has  been  very  gracious  to 
me  and  to  you  in  having  raised  me  up  again. 
*  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul ;  and  all  that  is 
within  me  bless  his  holy  name.  Bless  the  Lord, 
0  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits.'  I 
pray  that  the  life  which  ho  has  spared  may  be 


o^ 


150 


GAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


! 


more  devoted  to  him  henceforth.  I  went  with 
the  expedition  to  the  Crimea,  and  stayed  there 

• 

until  the  troops  landed,  when  the  whole  of  the 
sick  got  an  order  to  go  to  Constantinople.  I 
am  so  much  better,  and  gaining  strength  every 

day ;  Lady  B has  been  so  kind  to  me.    Oh, 

how  I  longed  to  have  you  near  me  in  my  ill- 
ness ;  but  the  Lord  was  my  stay,  and  the  ever- 
lasting arms  underneath.  How  wonderful  the 
providence  of  God,  that  this  illness  should 
have  been  sent  to  save  me  from  the  dangers  of 
Sebastopol.  He  answers  prayer  in  a  way  we 
looked  not  for." 

The  sad  scenes  m  the  hospital  at  Scutari,  the 
mismanagement  of  that  miserable  winter  of 
1854-5,  are  no  new  tale.  Still  it  is  scarcely 
possible,  in  these  extracts  from  the  letters  of 
one  who  was  himself  a  sufferer  there,  to  omit 
all  reference  to  the  deplorable  neglect  which 
existed. 

"  Scutari,  September  28. 

"  I  am  certainly  getting  stronger,  but  I  feel 
great  difficulty  in  writing ;  and  in  the  after- 
noon my  feet  get  numbed,  as  if  they  had  been 
crushed  under  a  roller.  What  they  mean  to 
do  with  us,  I  do  n't  know.    There  are  hardly 


THE  HOSPITAL. 


151 


any  medical  ofiScers  to  attend  us.  I  have  not 
seen  a  doctor  for  three  days.  The  hospital 
and  barracks  are  filled  with  sick  and  wounded 
men.  Fancy  ninety  officers  and  about  nineteen 
hundred  men  killed  and  wounded  in  the  en- 
gagement. The  poor  fellows  are  sadly  neg- 
lected. A.  man  of  my  company,  with  a  grape- 
shot  through  his  calf,  has  been  eight  days  in 
hospital,  and  no  doctor  has  been  near  him  to 
dress  his  wound.  It  is  a  sad  sight  to  see  the 
poor  fellows  lying  there.  The  passages  as 
well  as  the  wards  are  all  filled.  Oh  the  scourge 
of  war!  Lord,  send  us  peace,  in  thy  great 
mercy.  I  have  some  hopes  of  being  sent  home, 
but  the  doctors  seem  too  busy  to  attend  to  any 
thing. 

"  I  have  been  enabled  to  speak  a  word  to 
several  of  the  sick  officers,  and  I  find  that  their 
hearts  are  much  softened,  and  ready  to  hear. 
Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  not  be  ashamed  to 
confess  my  dear  Lord  and  Saviour,  who  loved 
me,  and  gave  himself  for  me.  I  hope  I  can 
truly  say  he  is  precious  to  me.  In  my  weak- 
ness I  have  felt  him  near  me,  though  I  could 
Xiot  pray  or  raise  my  thoughts  above." 


152 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


"Barracks,  Scutari,  Oct.  2. 

"  Since  I  last  wrote,  another  sick  ofl&cer  has 
arrived.  It  has  been  quite  a  providential 
thing  his  being  sent  here,  for  I  found  out  the 
first  evening  that  he  was  under  deep  concern 
about  his  soul,  the  Lord  having  touched  his 
heart  during  his  illness.  I  have  had  many 
deeply  interesting  conversations  with  him,  and 
he  seems  most  eager  to  receive  the  truth,  and 
to  give  his  heart  to  God.  .He  is,  as  might  be 
expected,  very  ignorant  of  the  gospel  scheme. 
I  have  read  with  him,  and  he  listens  eagerly  to 
the  word  of  God.  He  has  had  cholera,  which 
has  reduced  him  very  low.  Yesterday,  Sunday, 
the  chaplain  came  to  us  a  little  before  ten,  and 
gave  us  a  faithful  exhortation  to  repentance — 
the  difference  between  the  repentance  of  fear 
and  the  repentance  of  love." 

"  The  doctors  say  I  am  to  go  before  a  Board 
to-morrow.  If  so,  I  may  perhaps  get  home  by 
the  packet  of  the  10th.  But  we  must  not  build 
our  hopes  on  such  a  joyful  prospect,  nor  be  un- 
prepared for  disappointment.  .... 

"  Oct.  3. — The  Board  has  examined  me,  and 
pronounce  me  to  be  a  fit  case  to  go  home. 
G^d  grant  that  we  may  meet  in  the  fulness  of 


THE  HOSPITAL. 


153 


the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  with  the 
one  supreme  desire  that  we  may  glorify  God, 
and  live  more  wholly  to  him My  com- 
panion improves  in  health,  I  think,  slowly.  I 
read  to  him,  and  last  night  offered  to  pray  with 
him ;  and  I  have  got  him  a  reference  Bible  from 
the  d^pot  of  the  Bibl-^  S  3ty  at  Consta^+inC' 
pie.  God  grant  thai  the  good  work  may  go 
forward  in  him.  Oh,  how  I  shall  rejoice  to 
leave  the  wards  of  this  barrack.  Yet,  God  be 
praised,  goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  mo 
even  here."  .... 

A  little  delay  occurred  after  the  sitting  of 
the  Board,  and  Captain  Hammond  could  not 
avail  himself  of  the  packet  of  the  10th. 

"  Barracks,  Scutari,  Oct.  9, 1854. 

"  Among  other  reasons  which  reconcile  me 
to  staying  here  a  few  days  longer  is  this,  that 
I  am  now  well  enough  to  be  able  to  look  a  lit- 
tie  after  our  poor  sick  and  wounded  men,  many 
of  whom  are  without  any  change  ot  linen,  and 
even  without  soap.  Owing  to  the  want  of  sys- 
tem and  arrangement,  many  poor  fellows  have 
been  kept  for  days  without  food ;  and  I  verily 
believe  that  a  large  number  have  died  from 
exhaustion,  from  want  of  feeding  and  proper 


154 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


. 


nursing Farewell.     The  Lord  give  ua 

both  patience  to  wait  his  will." 

Captain  Hammond  got  a  passage  on  board 
the  steamer  of  the  15th,  and  landed  in  England 
early  in  November.  His  delight  at  returning 
home  is  expressed  in  a  letter  to  his  brother. 

>  "  Dover,  Sunday  night. 

"  My  dearest  H 1  have  written  to 

tell  you  of  my  safe  arrival  here  on  Friday 
evening.  Imagine  my  joy  and  deep  gratitude 
to  the  Father  of  all  mercies.  He  has  indeed 
*  brought  me  up  out  of  a  horrible  pit  and  the 
miry  clay/  and  *has  put  a  new  song  into  my 
mouth,  even  praise  unto  my  God.'  The  feeling 
that  I  cannot  praise  and  thank  him  enough  is  - 
almost  oppressive.  I  bless  his  holy  name  for 
the  love  and  sympathy  of  so  many  of  his  dear 
people,  whose  prayers  have  been  offered  for  me 
continually ;  and  I  feel  assured  that  my  return 
in  safety  and  in  peace  is  in  answer  to  those 
prayers." 

Home,  his  wife  and  his  child  were  before 
him  once  more.  "Thou  hast  given  him  his 
heart's  desire,  and  hast  not  withholden  the 
request  of  his  lips."  Joyful  indeed  was  that 
return  to  his  father's  roof.    Yet  but  a  little 


THE  HOSPITAL. 


155 


longer,  a  few  short  months,  and  another  home 
would  be  his.  "  In  my  Father^s  house  are 
many  mansions;'^  and  with  that  one  family 
already  gathered  there  his  place  would  soon  be 
found.  But  short  as  the  time  was,  there  was 
trial  yet  for  the  Christian  soldier,  sore  enough, 
to  come. 

On  Captain  Hammond's  recovery  from  his 
illness,  his  first  thought  was  to  devote  himself 
more  entirely  than  ever  to  the  Lord.  "  What 
shall  I  say?"  was  the  outpouring  of  his  soul; 
"he  hath  both  spoken  unto  me, and  himself  hath 
done  it :  I  shall  go  softly  all  my  years.  Thou 
hast,  in  love  to  my  soul,  delivered  it  from  the 
pit  of  corruption.  The  living,  the  living,  he 
shall  praise  thee,  as  I  do  this  day."  Many 
years  before,  as  we  have  mentioned,  he  had 
conceived  the  idea  of  entering  the  ministry. 
Now  that  desire  returned  with  tenfold  force. 
For  some  time  past  he  had  felt  the  deadening 
pressure  of  camp  life.  Like  just  Lot,  his  soul 
was  vexed  with  the  filthy  conversation  of  the 
wicked.  He  loathed  war  in  itself,  and  he 
longed  to  withdraw  from  the  red  field  of 
slaughter,  that  he  might  preach  the  gospel  of 
peace.    From  Monastir  he  had  written  in  the 


156 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


August  previous,  "  I  must  confess  to  you  that  I 
feel  sick  of  my  profession,  and  long  to  be  oth- 
erwise employed.  Camp  life  is  uphill  work  for 
a  Christian;  and  though  the  fault  lies  mainly 
with  myself,  there  are  so  many  difficulties  and 
impediments  to  doing  good,  that  it  seems  next 
to  impossible  to  do  any  thing."  He  even  went 
so  far  towards  entering  the  ministry  as  to  have 
an  interview  with  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, who  kindly  consented  to  ordain  him. 
But  he  felt,  as  the  war  thickened,  that  the  way 
was  more  and  more  closed  against  him,  and  his 
mind  was  made  up.  On  the  morning  on  which 
he  sailed  for  the  Crimea,  he  said,  "  I  have  no 
regret  at  my  determination  not  to  take  orders ; 
I  feel  that  my  path  of  duty  lies  in  the  army^ 
whether  for  life  or  death." 

The  spring  and  summer  of  1855  was  passed 
by  him  partly  at  his  home,  and  partly  at  South- 
sea,  where  he  had  taken  a  house,  and  was  sta- 
tioned in  command  of  the  d^pot.  His  earnest- 
ness in  doing  his  Master's  work  at  this  time, 
especially  attracted  the  observation  of  his 
friends.  The  first  Sunday  he  went  to  the . 
clergyman  to  ask  if  he  could  be  of  use  in  the 
school,  being  unable,  in  consequence  of  the  dis- 


THE  HOSPITAL. 


157 


tance,  to  undertake  both  the  hospital  and  the 
school,  which  he  had  previously  established  in 
the  spring  at  fort  Cumberland  for  the  children 
of  the  d^pot.  At  the  hospital  he  attended 
every  Sunday  afternoon,  and  though  still  suf- 
fering in  his  feet  from  the  effects  of  the  Bul- 
garian fever,  he  always  walked  to  fort  Cum- 
berland and  back,  between  three  and  four 
miles.  He  was  very  earnest  and  diligent  as  a 
Sunday-school  teacher,  always  preparing  his 
\  lesson  the  day  before,  and  making  the  children 
the  subject  of  prayer.  At  the  hospital  he  con- 
ducted a  service  for  the  sick,  with  the  chap- 
lain's permission.  He  valued  these  opportu- 
nities fetremely,  and  used  to  say  he  could  get 
at  the  men  better,  and  speak  to  them  more 
familiarly  and  personally,  than  at  any  other 
time.  After  this  service,  ne  would  read  and 
pray  separately  with  any  who  were  seriously 
ill,  and  confined  to  their  beds.  But  he  was  not 
intended  to  remain  here  much  longer.  The 
siege  of  Sebastopol,  like  the  horse-leech,  was 
crying.  Give,  give  I  and  the  blood  that  flowed 
freely  required  replacing. 


\  I 


158 


OAPT.  If.  H.  HAMMOND. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE  HARBINGEB. 

At  length,  after  several  orders  and  counter* 
orders,  the  fiat  was  issued  that  was  ,to  send 
Maxj  Hammond  forth  to  finish  the  work  that 
had  been  appointed  for  him  here.  On  the  9th 
of  August,  1855,  hid  father,  his  mother,  one  • 
brother,  and  one  sister,  went  down  to  Southsea, 
The  next  morning  Maxy  read  with  his  wife,  for 
the  last  time,  1  Pet.  1  :l-8.  After  the  passage 
had  been  read,  he  repeated  to  himself,  "  incor- 
ruptible, undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away." 
He  then  said  he  had  chosen  a  verse  for  his 
wife,  "Who  is  this  that  cometh  up  from  the 
wilderness,  leaning  on  her  beloved  ?"  and  said 
that  was  the  attitude  of  soul  that  we  should 
seek  after.  It  had  been  settled  that  the  rest 
of  his  family  should  come  on  thut  morning  at 
nine  to  breakfast :  so  that  he,  with  his  wife,  had 
a  quiet  time  for  prayer  before  they  arrived. 
They  knelt  together  in  the  drawing-room.  Ho 
prayed  for  his  wife,  that  the  removal  of  earthly 
joy  might  the  more  endear  to  her  her  God  and 


\  < 


THE  HAR3INGEB. 


159 


r 


unter» 

I  send 

k  that 

le  9th 

r,  one 

itbsea. 

ife,  for 

Eissage 

incor- 

way." 

or  his 

m  the 

d  said 

should 

e  rest 

ng  at 

'e,  had 

rived. 

Ho 

Eirthly 

d  and 


her  Saviour.  The  impression  on  his  mind  seem* 
ed  to  be,  that  a  very  long  separation  was  be- 
fore them,  and  he  used  the  expression, "  Give  her 
wisdom  and  grace  to  train  up  her  child  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,''  as  though 
she  were  going  to  bring  it  up  herself.  In  the 
same  prayer  he  said,  "Thou  hast  given  us  life; 
none  can/ take  away  that  life  until  thou  dost 
thyself  recall  it." 

In  the  previous  year,  February,  1854,  when 
on  the  eve  of  embarkation,  speaking  of  the 
coming  trials  and  the  dangers  of  war,  he  said, 
"I  know  the  anxiety  you  will  feel;  but  one 
cannot  be  anxious  about  one's  self,  for  I  feel  I 
am  so  entirely  in  God's  hands ;"  and  then  he 
added,  with  a  calm  solemnity  of  tone,  and  as 
if  weighing  every  word,  "and  if  God  should  see 
fit  to  take  me  in  that  manner,  sudden  death  is 
to  the  believer  but  sudden  glory." 

The  St.  Alban's  party,  his  father,  mother^ 
brother,  and  sister,  arrived.  They  weve  all  in 
the  dining-room.  The  servants  came  in.  There 
was  a  depth  of  feeling  and  a  calm  dignity  in 
Maxy's  manner  which  was  very  striking.    All 

present  felt  it.    He  said  to  his  brother  E , 

a  clergyman,  "E ,  you  must  let  me  be  my 


160 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


own  priest  to-day,  please ;"  and  he  then  read 
the  121st  and  125th  Psalms:  "I  will  lift  mine 
eyes  unto  the  hills  from  whence  cometh  my 
help."  "They  that  trust  in  the  Lord  shall  be 
as  mount  Zion,  which  cannot  be  removed,  but 
abideth  for  ever." 

Those  who  were  present  will  never  forget 
the  calming  and  solemnizing  effect  of  his  beau- 
tiful prayer,  commending  himself  to  God,  and 
those  especially  whom  he  was  leaving"  behind 
to  His  love  and  care  and  grace.  His  special 
prayer  for  himself  was,  that  he  might  honor 
God,  whatever  scenes  he  might  pass  through. 
Little  Nina,  his  child,  two  years  and  one  month 
old,  knelt  at  the  sofa  between  her  mother  and 
her  aunt  F .  They  feared  she  would  inter- 
rupt the  stillness,  but  she  seemed  to  feel  the 
solemnity  of  what  was  passing,  and  was  quiet 
throughout. 

The  preparations  for  departure  were  soon 
completed,  and  Maxy  took  leave  of  his  wife, 
his  child,  and  those  of  his  family  assembled  at 
Southsea,  to  see  them  here  no  more.  Bitter  in- 
der^d  was  the  parting ;  nor  would  it  be  possible 
it  should  pass  without  some  misgivings,  some 
forecast  of  sorrow  in  store.  v 


THE  HARBINGER. 


161 


read 
nine 
my 
11  be 
,  but 

oTgei 

beau- 

[,  and 

ebind 

pecial 

honor 

:ougli. 

montb 

jr  and 

inter- 
sel  the 

quiet 

e  soon 
wife, 
bled  at 
tter  in- 
)0ssible 
s,  some 


Before  sailing,  Maxy  Hammond  found  time 
as  usual  to  make  some  provision  for  the  spirit- 
ual wants  of  his  men.  A  well-known  publisher 
says  in  a  letter,  "Captain  Hammond  was  in 

street  a  few  days  before  he  sailed,  and  he 

was  then,  as  always,  intent  upon  obtaining  for 
his  men  such  publications  as  he  thought  likely 
to  do  them  good.  In  the  brief  conversation 
we  then  had  with  him,  we  can  well  remember 
how  warm  a  place  the  men  under  his  command 
had  in  his  Christian  sympathies." 

The  vessel  appointed  to  convey  those  ofl&cers 
who  were  under  orders  for  the  Crimea  was 
lying  at  Woolwich,  and  there  Captain  Ham- 
mond arrived  late  on  the  evening  of  the  11th. 
Here  he  was  joined  by  his  two  other  brothers 
and  a  sister,  who  had  not  received  intelligence 
of  his  sudden  departure  in  time  to  join  the  rest 
at  Southsea.  At  the  house  of  a  kind  and  old 
friend  they  were  expecting  his  arrival.  Late 
at  night  a  carriage  drove  up,  and  he  jumped 
out ;  his  face,  as  usual,  forestalling  the  warm 
and  joyful  greeting  of  his  lips.  He  was  in  uni- 
form, with  his  pouch-belt  and  sword.  All  were 
struck  with  the  very  great  apparent  improve- 
ment in  his  health.    He  had  latterly  entirely 


Hamnio  ^. 


11 


■* 


162 


GAPT.  H.  M.  HAMMOND. 


I  ■  I 


in 


thrown  off  the  effects  of  his  illness ;  and  it  seem- 
ed as  if  God  in  his  gracious  love  had  restored 
him  to  the  full  and  complete  possession  of  his 
bodily  vigor,  in  order  that,  in  the  last  great 
earthly  struggle  that  remained,  he  might  go 
forth  "strong  in  the  power  of  His  might,"  and 
honor  Him  by  his  bearing  before  man  in  answer 
to  his  prayers. 

Sabbath  morning  came.  At  an  officer's  quar- 
ters in  the  dock-yard  the  party  met  and  break- 
fasted together.  They  then  joined  together  in 
prayer.  The  chapter  read  was  Heb.  13,  "  Let 
brotherly  love  continue."  Upon  the  gangway 
of  the  steamer  the  sister  and  brothers  parted ; 
yet  not  sorrowing  as  those  without  hope.  Those 
who  were  left  returned  in  time  to  worship  with 
those  who  were  assembled  in  God's  house.  Be- 
fore the  congregation  had  left  that  roof,  the 
Harbinger  had  weighed  her  anchor,  and  had  left 
the  river. 

The  letters  to  his  wife  written  on  his  way 
out,  contain  passages  strikingly  beautiful.  His 
mind  was  evidently  becoming  more  and  more 
abstracted  from  all  earthly  things.  His  affec- 
tion for  his  wife  was  indeed  intense ;  but  still 
he  was  rapidly  and  practically  concentrating 


;  I 


THE  HABBING^B. 


163 


seem- 

bored 

)fhis 

great 

it  go 

"and 

iiswer 

iquar- 
break- 
;her  ia 
, "  Let 
ngway 
arted ; 
Those 


P 


with 
Be- 
of ,  the 
ad  left 

s  way 
His 
more 
s  affec- 
ut  still 
trating 


his  affections  on  things  above,  and  his  whole 
spirit  was  becoming  attuned  to  the  harmony 
awaiting  him  in  a  higher  and  heavenly  sphere. 

"Aug.  17. — You  are  never  absent  from  my 
thoughts ;  but  again  and  again  I  fall  back  upon 
the  comfort  of  knowing  that  Jesus  loves  you 
more  tenderly,  more  wisely,  and  more  con- 
stantly than  I  do.  He  will  sustain  and  keep 
you,  and  give  you  songs  in  tjie  night.  I  was 
comforted  this  morning  in  prayer  for  you,  in 
thinking  that  the  promise  would  be  fulfilled  to 
you,  *  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless ;  I  will 
come  to  you.'  Oh,  if  Jesus  come  to  you,  yen 
will  have  such  a  portion  as  yo\ir  husband  can 
never  be  to  you." 

"Aug.  29. — ^I  have  no  presentiment  of  com- 
ing evil,  and  no  vain  confidence  of  escaping  dan- 
ger. I  place  myself  in  the  hands  of  my  Saviour 
God.  I  rest  in  his  finished  work,  as  a  poor 
guilty  sinner.  I  hope  in  his  mercy,  and  leave 
the  issue  in  his  hands  without  carefulness.  This 
trial  is  for  the  exercise  of  our  faith.  Oh  that 
grace  may  be  given  us  to  glorify  our  Lord  by 
doing  or  suffering  what  he  may  appoint." 

"September  6, 185  >. 

"We  are  steaming  quietly  along  towards 


164 


OAPT«  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


» 


Balaklava.  We  expect  to  be  off  the  harbor 
by  four  o'clock.  You  would  think  this  w«ild 
be  an  exciting  time ;  but  it  is  not  so.  I  have 
been  so  long  and  so  calmly  looking  forward  to 
it,  that  it  fails  to  produce  the  excitement  that 
it  might  once  have  done.  The  quiet  time  on 
board  ship  has  been  a  great  privilege,  before 
entering  on  the  distractions  and  turmoils  of 
camp  life.  I  have  been  enabled,  in  some  meas- 
ure, to  commune  with  my  own  heart  and  with 
my  God  in  secret ;  and  on  Sunday  last  I  was 
thankful  to  have  an  opportunity  of  partaking 
of  the  sacrament  at  the  Embassy.  I  felt  much 
comfort  and  peace  in  the  ordinance ;  its  value 
seemed  enhanced,  from  the  feeling  that  it  was 
probably  the  last  time  that  I  should  have  an 
opportunity  of  receiving  it  in  any  thing  like  a 

church,    Mr.  B- has  engaged  the  services 

of  a  good  man  during  his  absence.  He  preached 
from  Job,  on  the  words,  *I  would  not  live  alway  •/ 
showing  the  reason  why  the  Christian  might 
adopt  them  as  his  own.  Oh,  ought  we  not  to 
bless  our  God  for  every  trial  which  may  lead 
us  to  a  desire  to  depart  and  to  be  with  Christ? 
When  all  is  bright  and  prosperous  and  happy, 
then  we  would  not  give  up  these  earthly  bless- 


THE  HARBINGER. 


165 


irbor 
rmXd 
have 
rd  to 
)  that 
ae  on 
>efore 
ils  of 
meas- 
l  with 
I  was 
;akiDg 
much 
value 
It  was 
ve  an 
like  a 
rvices 
cached 
Iway/ 
might 
not  to 
y  lead 
hrist? 

bless- 


ings, no,  not  even  for  those  higher  blessings 
which  are  above;  but  when  all  is  dark  and 
gloomy  and  uncertain,  earthly  blessings  and 
consolations  gone,  then  the  heart  yearns  for 
those  things  which  pass  not  away — for  that 
'inheritance'  which  is  *  incorruptible  and  unde- 
filed,  and  that  fadeth  not  away.'  I  long  to 
hear  that  you  can  tell  me  that  our  God  is 
leading  us  aright,  and  that  you  can  trust  his 
faithfulness  to  do  all  things  well.  My  constant 
prayer  for  you  is,  that  your  faith  may  not  fail, 
that  his  strength  may  be  sufficient  for  you 
always. 

"Here  we  are,  at  half-past  eight,  safely  an- 
chored in  the  roadstead  of  Balaklava.  You 
will  learn  by  telegraph  that  we  opened  fire 
again  this  morning ;  but  not  much  is  expected 
from  it,  so  far  as  I  can  learn  from  Balaklava. 
We  have  been  watching  the  flashes  in  the  di- 
rection of  Sebastopol.  Their  frequency  aston- 
ishes us  novices.  Strange  to  say,  we  cannot 
hear  the  report  of  the  guns ;  but  doubtless  we 
shall  hear  and  see  more  than  enough  of  them 
before  we  have  done. 

"The  Lord  be  with  you,  and  with  us  both, 
for  time  and  eternity." 


166 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


THE  CRIMEA. 

The  short  period  of  two  days  that  elapsed 
between  Captain  Hammond's  landing  and  the 
final  attack  rpon  Sebastopol  were  chiefly  oc- 
cupied in  settling  himself  in  camp,  superintend- 
ing the  disembarkation  of  his  luggage,  and  pay- 
ing visits  to  his  friends.  And  yet  he  found 
time  in  the  first  confusion  of  arrival  to  visit 
the  sick  in  hospital,  as  if  remembering  the 
words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  "  Come,  ye  blessed  of 
my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for 
you,  ...  for  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me." 

The  few  particulars  of  these  last  two  days 
may  be  best  gathered  from  the  letters  of  a 
brother  officer  and  most  attached  friend. 

"  Camp  before  Sebastopol. 

"I  will  just  in  a  few  words  mention  some 
things  that  will  interest  you,  regarding  the 
two  days  he  spent  in  camp  with  us.  Having 
heard,  on  the  evening  of  the  fifth,  that  he  had 
arrived  at  Balaklava,  I  rode  down  the  follow- 
ing morning,  and  met  him  on  Colonel  L 'a 


THE  CRIMEA 


107 


'8 


horse,  which  had  been  sent  to  meet  him.  We 
rode  back  to  camp,  welcoming  each  other  with 
a  chastened  joy,  and  with  some  vague  misgiv- 
ings in  my  mind.  He  was  cheerful,  looked 
well,  and  I  pointed  out  to  him  the  various  lo- 
calities rendered  remarkable  by  recent  events 
in  this  weary  campaign.  He  dined  with  me, 
enjoying  the  camp  comfort  of  the  hut  in  which 
I  live.  Afterwards,  true  to  his  old  spirit  of 
love  and  benevolence,  he  visited  the  hospital, 
talked  and  shook  hands  with  all  the  old  sol- 
diers he  recognized,  and  also  had  a  kind  con- 
versation with  the  hospital  sergeant,  whose 
wife  is  with  Mrs.  Hammond.  We  then  walked 
to  the  front  of  our  encampment,  and  I  pointed 
out  to  him  such  works  of  the  enemy  and  the 
allies  as  were  within  view.  On  returning  to 
camp  we  mounted  our  horses  again,  and  rode 
to  Cathcart^s  Hill,  where  a  good  view  of  the 
town  can  be  obtained.  On  our  return  we  call- 
ed on  his  cousin.  Major  G — — .  After  tea  we 
walked  again  to  the  front,  to  see  the  cannonade 
and  the  shelling.  On  the  following  morning 
at  breakfast  he  said  he  had  slept  but  little, 
from  the  dust  wliich  was  flying  about  and  the 
excitement  connected  with  the  terrific  firing. 


168 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


He  afterwards  rode  into  Balaklava  to  inquire 
for  his  horse,  and  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife, 
when  in  the  meantime  the  plan  of  the  morrow's 
attack  was  published  in  orders. 

"  We  talked  together  of  the  dread  work  be- 
fore the  army  and  the  regiment,  and  in  com- 
pliance with  his  then  request  I  now  write  to 
you.  *  John,'  as  he  always  affectionately  called 
me,  'write  to  my  father  if  any  thing  befalls  me. 
You  know  his  address.'  He  then  added,  his 
eyes  filling  with  tears,  *  Write  to  my  wife  too,' 
and  spoke  about  selling  his  things;  under  no 
kind  of  depression,  but  as  if  to  be  ready  for 
the  worst.  I  agreed  of  course,  and  asked  him 
to  leave  his  watch  with  me,  with  his  keys, 
which  he  did,  passing  the  subject  off  by  saying 
that  we  often  talked  of  such  matters  among  our- 
selves, from  the  uncertainty  of  camp  life,  from 
sickness,  as  well  as  the  shot  of  the  enemy. 

"After  finishing  our  letters,  he  proposed  that 
we  should  have  our  ordinary  reading  of  the 
Scriptures,  with  prayer,  asking  me  to  read.  I 
read  the  ninety-first  psalm,  which  led  to  some 
conversation  regarding  God's  care  of  his  own 
peculiar  people.  He  then  prayed  with  a  fer- 
vor and  unction  that  recalled  the  many  sweet 


THE  CRIMEA. 


109 


prayers  that  I  have  heard  uttered  by  that  dear 
voice  which  is  now  attuned  to  everlasting  praise 
before  the  Lamb.  My  mind  was  much  distract- 
ed about  him ;  but  I  recollect  feeling  how  he 
dwelt  on  the  undue  importance  we  attach  to 
seen  and  temJ)oral  things,  and  the  importance 
of  unseen  and  eternal  things.  He  mentioned 
in  prayer  his  wife  and  child,  and  those  dear 
brethren  whom  we  are  accustomed  to  remem- 
ber in  our  social  prayers.  "We  bade  each  ether 
good -night  with  an  affectionate  shake,  our 
hearts  filled  with  hopes  and  fears  regarding 
the  morrow.  He  wished  me  to  call  him  early 
in  the  morning,  that  he  might  have  some  time 
for  prayer  before  breakfast,  which  was  earlier 
than  usual  on  account  of  parade." 

The  letter  to  his  wife,  written  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  seventh,  the  night  before  the  attack, 
is  as  follows : 

"Camp  before  Sebastopol,  Oct.  7, 1865. 
"  I  am  not  going  to  write  a  long  letter,  be- 
cause I  have  already  posted  one  for  you,  and  I 
am  rather  tired  this  evening  through  the  excite- 
ment of  the  scenes  around  me,  the  sights  and 
sounds,  which  have  taken  the  place  of  what  we 
used  only  to  read  of.    Long  before  this  reaches 


no 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


you,  you  will  probably  have  heard  of  another 
attack  on  the  Redan,  Malakoflf,  or  both.  Who 
shall  say  whether  it  will  be  attended  with  suc- 
cess or  failure  ?  But  the  Lord  reigneth,  and  to 
him  only  can  the  soui  turn  in  looking  to  the 
unknown  future.  A  very  heavy  bombardment 
has  been  going  on  for  the  last  three  days  with- 
out intermission ;  a  heavier  fire  than  any  other 
that  has  hitherto  taken  place.  There  is  no 
manner  of  doubt  that  something  great  is  to 
take  place  immediately.    In  fact  we  were  told 

so  on  parade  this  evening  by  General  C . 

Two  days'  rations  have  been  issued  to  the  Sec- 
ond and  Light  divisions,  and  it  is  expected  that 
we  shall  move  a  own  to  the  trenches  to-morrow 
morning.    At  all  events,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
this  time  they  will  not  repeat  the  blunders  of 
the  eighteenth,  and  that  we  shall  not  attack 
till  the  French  have  stormed  the  Malakoff.    I 
have  not  yet  been  down  to  the  trenches,  so  that 
my  inauguration  will  probably  be  a  serious  one. 
But  I  can  calmly  leave  the  event  in  the  hands 
of  a  Saviour  God.     Come  life  or  come  death, 
my  only  hope  is  in  the  blood  which  cleanseth 
from  all  sin.     My  heart  sometimes  sinks  when 
I  think  of  those  at  home.    But  He  is  faithful 


THB  CRIMEA. 


ni 


who  has  said,  *  When  thou  passest  through  the 
waters,  /  will  be  with  thee.'    And  He  will  be 

with  thee,  even  to  the  end  of  the  world 

One  does  \iot  realize  the  curse  of  war  until  one 
comes  in  contact  with  it 

"The  order  for  the  attack  has  just  come  out ; 
thankful  I  am  that  you  cannot  know  H,  dear- 
est, beforehand.    F ,  with  100  men,  form 

the  covering  party  to  the  whole.  The  remain- 
der of  our  battalion  form  part  of  the  reserve, 
and  follow  up  the  attack.  The  Lord  Jesus  be 
with  you. 

"P.  S.— Sept.  8,  6.30  a.  m.— I  have  had  a 
peaceful  time  for  prayer,  and  have  committed 
the  keeping  of  my  soul  and  body  to  the  Lord 
my  God,  and  have  commended  to  his  grace  and 
care  my  virife  and  child,  my  parents,  brothers, 
and  sisters,  and  all  dear  to  me.  Come  what 
will,  all  is  well.  This  day  will  be  a  memora- 
ble one.  Farewell,  once  more.  Psa.  91 :  15  is 
my  text  for  to-day,  especially  the  words,  'I  will 
be  with  him  in  trouble.' " 

This  calm  awaiting  of  whatever  might  befall 
him  in  the  Lord's  good  time,  calls  to  remem- 
brance  some  very  beautiful  lines,  whose  source 
the  writer  cannot  atf  this  moment  remember; 


172 


OAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


yet  they  seem  almost  penned  to  illustrate  his 
last  written  words : 

"  Art  thou  not  sadly  weary  ?    Answer  me, 
Mariner,  What  thinkest  thou,  when  the  waters  beat 
Thy  frail  bark  backward  from  the  wished-for  harbor? 
Oh,  brother ;  though  innumerable  waves 
8hall  seem  to  rise  between  me  and  my  home, 
J  know  that  they  are  numbered  ;  not  one  less 
Should  bear  me  homeward,  if  I  had  my  will ; 
For  One  who  knows  what  tempests  are  to  weather, 
O'er  whom  there  broke  the  wildest  billows  once, 
He  bids  these  waters  swell.    In  His  good  time 
The  last  rough  wave  shall  bear  me  on  its  bosom 
Into  the  bosom  of  eternal  peace. 
No  billows  after.    They  are  numbered,  brother. 
Oh,  gentle  mariner,  steer  on,  steer  on ; 
My  tears  still  fall  for  thee,  but  they  are  tears 
In  which  faith  strives  with  grief  and  overcomes." 

The  dealings  of  God's  providence,  which 
placed  Captain  Hammond  on  the  soil  of  the 
Crimea  on  the  very  eve  of  the  assault,  are 
most  remarkable.  Circumstances  seemed  to 
point  to  a  different  result.  His  final  embarka- 
tion occurred  after  a  succession  of  delays,  coun- 
ter-orders, and  uncertainty  as  to  whether  he  or 
some  other  ofl&cer  should  be  sent.  A  direct 
application,  that  he  should  be  left  in  charge  of 
the  d^pot,  was  made  by  Ms  commanding  ofl&cer, 


THE  CRIMEA. 


ns 


his 


who  was  most  anxious  to  keep  him  at  a  post 
where  the  qualities  of  an  efficient  officer  were 
called  for.  This  application  was  actually  grant- 
ed, and  subsequently  withdrawn.  Then  occur- 
red the  error  of  one  of  the  clerks,  who  mad«  . 
out  the  route  for  the  Crimea  instead  of  Malta, 
where,  in  the  ordinary  course,  the  draft  would 
have  been  landed,  had  not  Captain  Hammond 
himself  explained  and  overruled  the  mistake. 
Any  slight  occurrence,  a  little  longer  delay  at 
Constantinople,  the  prevalence  of  head  winds 
on  the  passage  out,  a  very  trifling  circumstance 
indeed,  would  have  caused  those  two  days  to 
slip  away  that  alone  intervened  between  Cap- 
tain Hammond's  arrival  and  the  storming  of 
the  great  Redan.  Yet  how  pliant  ^are  those 
^combinations  of  second  causes,  which  men  term 
"chance''  or  accident,  to  the  decrees  of  Him 
by  whom  "we  live  and  move  and  have  our  be- 
ing." The  grain  was  ripe,  and  the  husband- 
man was  ready  to  put  in  the  sickle,  because 
the  harvest  was  come. 

On  the  afternoon  preceding  the  attack  a  pa- 
rade had  taken  place,  and  General  C here 

•briefly  addressed  the  troops  in  connection  with 
the  expected  assault.    At  the  conclusion.  Cap- 


lU 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


tain  Hammond  was  returning  to  his  tent  with 
an  officer  who  had  been  a  fellow-passenger 
with  him  on  board  the  Harbinger.  On  the  way 
that  officer  said  to  him,  "Well,  it  is  as  I  proph- 
esied on  board  the  Harbinger;  they  have  got  a 
field-day  for  us."  Captain  Hammond's  reply 
was  one  of  no  little  significance,  and  not  easily 
forgotten  by  those  who  knew  the  deep  current 
of  his  thoughts.  "Well,  I  am  quite  ready /^  he 
said,  "  for  any  thing  that  may  happen."  It  is 
not  a  little  instructive  to  compare  this  short 
utterance  with  that  ardent  desire  for  prolonged 
life  w:hich  he  had  experienced  in3ulgaria.  The 
request  of  his  lips  had  been  heard.  His  home, 
his  wife  and  child,  had  been  restored  to  him. 
In  the  restoration  of  these  blessings  for  a  very 
considerable  time,  he  had  been  enabled  to  await 
the  issue  of  a  return  to  the  seat  of  war  with 
perfect  acquiescence  in  the  will  of  God.  The 
growing  feeling  of  his  heart  was  now  that  of 
the  preceding  Sunday's  text,  "  I  would  not  live 
alway."  "  I  have  a  desire  to  depart,  and  to  be 
with  Christ,  which  is  far  better  J^  He  was  in- 
deed ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  his 
departure  was  at  hand.  « 

We  all  know  the  history  of  the  first  attack. 


THE  CRIMEA. 


ns 


To  that  "terrific  fire,"  which  was  poured  for 
three  successive  days  upon  the  de^'oted  city,  a 
night  of  quiet  succeeded.  Outwardly,  at  least, 
there  was  a  semblancf*  of  repose  throughout  the 
weary  camp.  But  it  was  like  the  rest  that  pre- 
cedes the  uptearing  of  the  earth,  the  rending  of 
the  everlasting  hills,  the  bursting  forth  of  the 
lava  flood.  Well  indeed  might  we  speculate 
on  the  train  that  filled  each  soldier^s  thoughts 
that  night.  Many  jaded  forms  there  must  have 
been,  who,  under  the  gentle  hand  of  sleep,  were 
lulled  to  forgetfulness  of  the  awful  morrow. 
Some  there  may  have  been  to  whom  sweet  rest 
refused  to  come.  Would  to  God  there  were 
many  a  one,  and  such  there  doubtless  were,  who 
on  that  solemn  night-watch  before  the  day  of 
terror  could  say  with  Hammond,  "  Come  life 
or  come  death,  my  hope  is  in  the  blood  which 
cleanseth  from  all  sin." 


176 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

THE  STORMING. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  buglet 
of  the  Rifle  brigade  sounded  for  the  parade.  It 
was  Captain  Hammond's  first  day  of  duty  in 
the  Crimea.  He  had  slept  well,  was  refreshed, 
and  quite  cheerful.    He  had  expressed  a  wish 

to  Colonel  M to  lead  his  own  old  company, 

and  it  was  placed  at  his  disposal;  and  duly 
equipped  and  accoutred,  he  marched  down  to 
the  trenches  with  the  battalion.  A  portion 
of  them,  as  before  stated,  were  to  act  as  cov- 
erers  to  the  column  of  attack ;  the  remainder 
were  to  be  held  in  reserve,  and  for  this  duty 

Colonel  M had  selected  those  ofl&cers  whose 

recent  arrival  rendered  them  imperfectly  ac- 
quainted with  the  trenches.  Among  these  was 
Captain  Hammond.  The  reserve  was  directed 
to  occupy  a  portion  of  the  third  parallel,  where, 
though  under  fire,  they  were  comparatively 
safe.  There  they  remained,  conversing  cheer- 
fully, and  watching  the  troops  for  an  hour  or 
so.    Suddenly  word  was,  passed  for  the  Rifles 


THE  STORMING. 


m 


to  come  to  the  front,  as  the  assaulting  party 
required  support.  The  battalion  rose  and  filed 
off,  under  a  heavy  direct  and  flanking  fire,  into 
the  fifth  parallel,  through  an  intricate  maze  of 
trenches  and  approaches.  Here  there  was  a 
momentary  pause.  Then  the  dark  column^  clear- 
ing the  parapet,  issued  from  the  trench.  Amid 
a  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  bringing  death  and 
destruction  on  all  sides,  the  riflemen  rush  across 
the  intermediate  space.  Those  who  escape  that 
iron  hail-storm  gain  the  glacis.  At  the  edge 
of  the  ditch,  two  officers  are  resting,  side  by 
side,  to  gather  breath.  The  lips  of  one  of  them 
are  moving  in  prayer.  One  moment  more,  and 
he  ascends  the  scaling-ladder.  On  the  summit 
of  the  parapet  his  hand  is  grasped  by  a  friend. 
They  had  not  seen  one  another^for  years;  it 
was  a  strange  meeting.  But  this  was  uo  time 
'for  words  of  welcome;  all  was  in  con'i:3ion. 
After  a  few  sentences  about  rallying  V\e  men, 
Captain  Hammond  passes  on.  Her  j^  for  some 
little  time  he  is  seen  vainly  endeavoring  to  re 
store  order.    His  exertions  at  this  time  were 

observed  by  General  W ,  who,  unaware 

of  his  fate,  subsequently  recommended  him  in 
orders.     Soon  after  this  he  if^  seen  by  another 


Hammoncl. 


12 


1T8 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


oflBcer  of  the  Rifles.     Captain  Hammond  was 
then  suffering  great  pain,  probably  from  a 

contusion  of  the  hand;  and  B told  him 

ho  ought  to  go  to  the  rear.    He  said,  "This 

is  no  time  for  that;"  and  ordered  B to 

collect  some  men  and  try  the  other  flank  of 
the  Redan. 

Pressing  forward  then  himself  into  the  heart 
of  the  work,  with  a  color-sergeant  and  one  or 
two  devoted  men  who  had  bound  up  their  fate 
in  his,  his  sword  is  seen  flashing  far  in  advance 
in  personal  encounter.  "I  saw  an  officer  of  the 
Rifles,"  said  one  immediately  after  the  action, 
"whose  name  I  do  not  know,  a  fine  tall  man, 
behaving  heroically."  Another  officer  said  of 
him  that  he  never  saw  so  brave  a  man,  and 
that  he  fought  desperately.  And  the  colonel  of 
the  Rifle  brigade  speaks  of  him  as  "  exhibiting 
a  daring  seldom  equalled,  and  never  surpassed, 
in  the  history  of  strife."  Once  or  twice  in  that 
deadly  fray,  his  form  appears  through  the  em- 
brasures; and  for  a  few  moments,  before  his 
strong  arm  the  Russian  foeman  retires  and 
closes  again.  But  to  him  neither  earthly  crown 
nor  medal,  nor  grateful  country's  praise,  is  in 
store  for  these  moments  of  devotion.     The 


THE  STORMING. 


179 


to 


deadly  bayonets  close  around  him,  the  sword 
drops  from  the  uplifted  hand,  and  he  sinks  into 
the  arms  of  an  officer  of  the  Forty-first,  But 
with  angels  and  seraphs,  and  the  hosts  of  heav- 
en, who  were  waiting  "on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,"  there  were  hymns  of  joy  that  day.  Eye 
hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  hath  it 
entered  the  heart  of  man,  the  things  that  God 
hath  prepared  for  that  happy  ransomed  spirit. 

This  storming  of  Sebastopol  was  the  final 
conflict  of  the  Crimean  war.  At  midnight  the 
enemy  were  seen  retreating  to  4he  north,  and 
in  the  morning  Sebastopol  was  in  flames.  Yery 
early  a  party  of  riflemen  approached  from  the 
works  towards  the  camp.  The  precious  object 
of  their  search  had  been  found.  An  expression 
of  sweet  peact  rested  on  the  placid  features. 
A  very  small  pimcture,  close  to  the  heart,  told 
how  instantaneous  must  have  beon  his  death. 
Almost  upon  the  wound,  a  locket  bathed  in  his 
heart's  blood,  was  lying;  and  many  o^  those 
who  looked  through  their  tears,  read  in  that 
fixed  calmness  of  death,  the  seal  of  the  promise, 
"Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright, 
for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peaceJ^ 

Yet  for  him  over  whom  the  heavenly  host  re- 


180 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


joiced  that  day,  why  should  we  mourn  ?  Should 
we  not  rather  take  up  the  song  of  praise  ?  Should 
we  not  rather,  while  we  lift  up  our  hearts  in 
thankful  gratitude  to  Him  who  loved  him  and 
redeemed  him,  give  utterance  to  thoughts  suclx 
as  these? 

"  To  weep  for  him  I  to  weep  for  whom  7 

The  loved  on  earth — the  saved  in  heaven ; 

Triumphant  o'er  the  narrow  tomb — 
His  sorrows  past — ^his  sins  forgiven: 

What  I  weep  for  him?  it  must  not  be ; 

<^ur  tears  would  blot  his  victory. 

"N  ly,  hymiBihis  flight  in  rapturous  songs ; 

.For  he,  in  death's  embrace,  hath  done 
*VV  ith  human  griefs  and  fears  and  wrongs : 

His  fight  is  fought — his  triumph  won ; 
The  immortal  crown  is  round  his  brow ; 
He  dwells  beside  the  Saviour  now. 

"Weep  v.Qif  or  weep  as  those  should  weep 
Whose  hope  is  stronger  than  their  sorrow: 
To-night  our  loved  and  lost  ones  sleep, 

But  Christ  will  bring  them  back  to-morrow. 
We  shall  not  long  lament  them  here  ; 
Our  home  is  in  a  brighter  sphere."      moultrie. 

In  one  of  those  deep  ravines  near  Sebastopol, 
undisturbed  now  by  oth'  /  sound  than  bell  or 
browsing  sheep,  is  the  burial-ground  of  the 
Light  division.  Thither  very  shortly  the  pre- 
cious remains  were  borne  to  their  last  resting- 


THE  STORMING. 


181 


place,  with  all  a  soldier^s  honors.  A  white  stone 
cross  was  placed  over  the  grave ;  and  at  its  fool 
a  few  summer  flowers  were  planted.  These  sim- 
ple lines  record  his  early  death  and  blessed  end: 

0acreb  to  tlje  imem0rs 

OF 

CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND,  SECOND  BATTALION,  R.  B., 

WHO  WAS  KILLED  IN  THE  ASSAULT  ON  THE  EEDAN, 

8th  SEPTEMBER,  1855 : 

AGED  31  YEARS. 

"  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord." 

In  the  country  church  of  Nonington,  the 
parish  of  his  own  home,  a  tablet  has  also  been 
erected,  bearing  these  words : 

TO  THE  PRAISE  OF  THE  GLORY  OP  HIS  GRACE 

WHICH  GAVE 
A  CHRISTIAN  LUSTRE  TO  THE  LIFE, 

AND 
A  BLESSEDNESS  TO  THE  HONORABLE  DEATH, 

OP 

MAXIMILIAN  MONTAGU  HAMMOND, 

CAPTAIN  IN  THE  SECOND  BATTALION  OF  THE  RIFLB 

BRIGADE ; 

THIRD  SON  OP  W.  O.  HAMMOND,  ESQ., 

OF  ST.  ALBAN'S  COURT,  IN  THIS  PARISH. 

HE  FELL  AT  THE  ATTACK  ON  THE  REDAN, 

BEFORE  SEBASTOPOL, 

SEPTEMBER  8th,  1865,  AGED  31. 


182 


CAPT.  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 


"They  which  receive  abundance  of  grace,  and 
of  the  gift  of  righteousness,  shall  reign  in  life 
by  one,  Jesus  Christ."    Eom.  5 :  17. 

Not  alone  on  his  own  immediate  circle ;  not 
alone  onr  his  regiment ;  not  alone  on  the  bosom 
of  his  family,  was  the  strong  hand  of  grief  laid 
by  his  early  removal ;  but  there  were  those  who, 
with  quick  perception  of  the  sterling  value  of 
his  character,  holding  positions  of  trust  them- 
selves, mourned  his  loss  upon  larger  than  mere 
personal  grounds.  One  who  holds  high  office 
in  the  state,  and  no  speaker  of  light  words 
without  consideration,  on  hearing  his  name 
among  those  who  had  fallen,  said  of  him,  that 
"he  looked  to  him  as  the  man  whose  influence 
would  be  felt  to  be  of  untold  benefit  to  the 
army ;"  and  on  another  occasion,  in  almost  sim- 
ilar words,  that  "  he  looked  to  him  as  the  re- 
generator of  the  army."  Another,  who  faith- 
fully discharged  his  sacred  office  as  a  minister 
of  Christ  during  the  whole  of  the  Crimean 
campaign,  said,  in  words  scarcely  less  valuable, 
"  Of  course  I  feel  for  the  family ;  but  it  is  for 
the  natixm  that  I  feel  most.  I  look  upon  his 
death  as  a  public  calamity."  To  these  might 
be  added  a  long  array  of  honorable  testimo- 


THE  STOBMINO. 


183 


nials  from  letters  which  poured  in  after  his 
decease,  from  officers  in  the  army  and  others. 
These  letters  attest  his  high  professional  worth, 
and  dwell  with  warm  eulogium  on  his  excel- 
lence as  a  man,  a  friend,  and  a  Christian.  Not 
a  few  of  the  writers  gratefully  recount  the  ben- 
efits they  had  themselves  received  through  his 
fidelity  and  activity  in  the  service  of  Christ. 
In  eight  different  churches,  four  of  them  in ;  par- 
ishes where  he  had  been  quartered,  sermons 
were  preached  on  the  occasion  of  his  death. 
Our  regret  at  his  early  withdrawal  from  fields 
of  Christian  labor,  so  wide  and  so  hopeful, 
quickens  the  desire  that  these  brief  memorials 
may  perpetuate  his  influence,  and  transmit  his 
spirit  to  many  a  soldier  of  the  cross. 


A  very  little  while,  and  there  shall  be  a  mar- 
shalling of  hosts,  before  which  even  the  sands 
of  the  sea  shall  be  as  nothing  in  multitude.  A 
very  little  while,  and  the  trumpet  shall  ring 
forth  a  blast,  at  the  sound  of  which  not  the 
walls  of  that  beleaguered  city,  but  the  very 
foundations  of  the  earth  shall  tremble.  A  verv 
little,  and  then  shall  appear,  attended  by  His 
white-robed  host,  not  earthly  prince  or  poten- 


'iS4 


CAPT.  51.  M.  HAMMOND. 


tate,  nor  mortal  conqueror,  but  the  sign  of  the 
Son  of  man  in  heaven.  And  who  may  abide 
the  day  of  his  coming?  What  sleeper  shall 
endure  the  warning  of  that  trumpet-blast,  when 
many  of  those  that  sleep  in  the  dust  of  the 
earth  shall  awak<^ ;  some  to  everlasting  life,  and 
some  to  shame  and  everlasting  contempt?  Hap- 
py, happy  he,  who  in  that  dread  hour  shall  be 
found  with  the  watchword  on  his  lips,  *  Quite 
ready." 


■-* 


1  of  the 
y  abide 
3r  shall 
3t,  when 
of  the 
ife,  and 
'  Hap- 
ihall  be 
'*  Quite 


M 


*■*■# 


■.•M    im:m 


*; 


■  -^i;.- 


